NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship 2011: Texas A&M Takes Down Notre Dame, 76-70

Watching the ghastly NCAA Championship Game on Monday, some folks wondered whether it might get upstaged by the women’s game the next day. And sure enough... Notre Dame and Texas A&M put on quite the show in the title game Tuesday night.

At USA Today, Christine Brennan crunches some numbers:

After being shut down for much of the first half, Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins started to take over on both offense and defense. With three steals and eight points, Diggins and Devereaux Peters’ 10 points and five boards have brought the Irish to a surprising 35-33 lead over Texas A&M.

The Aggies led by as many as 13, but point guard Sidney Colson got in serious foul trouble, missing several minutes after racking up her third personal. Without her in charge of the Texas A&M attack, Notre Dame was able to bring the turnover margin to … well, there’s not one. Both teams have nine turnovers, a major turnaround from the opening minutes.

Both teams are shooting lights-out, contrary to Texas A&M’s reputation. Notre Dame’s Devereaux Peters and A&M’s Tyra White have eight points each.

The Aggies are exercising their huge interior advantage, grabbing five offensive rebounds to Notre Dame’s zero. Notre Dame has started trying to beat the Aggies at their own game, with Skylar Diggins forcing a turnover on a full court press out of the last TV timeout.

The Irish have been able to attempt all of three shots so far, turning the ball over six times in the face of Texas A&M’s infamous brick wall defense. The Aggies themselves have stuck to their game plan, running scripted plays to great effect.

Adaora Elonu and Danielle Adams have four points each for Texas A&M.

A common complaint made by college basketball fans about the women’s game: the same team beats the same opponent every year in the women’s championship. Not this year, as Notre Dame’s high-scoring Skylar Diggins and Texas A&M’s hellish press defense present themselves on the final stage.

SB Nation Houston thinks Danielle Adams and company will force the speedy Irish to play Texas A&M basketball, which should make Butler fans feel right at home. Now watch this transition: but Notre Dame could feel even more at home, as the game is being played a reasonable drive away from South Bend.

Game time and TV schedule: ESPN is set to broadcast at 8:30 pm ET. Dave O’Brien and Doris Burke have the call, along with Holly Rowe and Rebecca Lobo on the sidelines.

Location: The Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, a venue that, unlike it’s 2011 men’s counterpart in Houston, was actually designed for basketball. Going out on a limb and predicting shooting percentages better than 20 percent in this game.