Notre Dame Beats UConn In Women’s Tournament On A Clutch Shot For The Ages

Since the women’s game emerged as a serious sport, there have been four basic powers: early on it was Old Dominion and Louisiana Tech. Tennessee took the baton for years with the late Pat Head Summitt before Geno Auriemma and UConn seized control.

And UConn has been incredibly dominant, winning 11 national championships since 1995.

The women’s game has been a world away from parity though.

Earlier in this tournament, UConn beat St. Francis 140-52 which is basically impossible on the men’s side.

Even so the gap is closing at least closer to the top.

For the second year in a row, UConn lost in the NCAA semifinals on a buzzer beater. This time it was Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale, who rose up from the corner and hit the most iconic shot in women’s basketball since Charlotte Smith’s huge shot to win it for UNC in 1994.

Notre Dame thus advances to play Mississippi State for the title. Congratulations to the Irish and Ogunbowale. UConn finishes the season at 36-1 and with a lifetime of Laettner-like moments to go with it because that shot will live forever.