Women’s NCAA Tournament 2013: Game preview, TV schedule for UConn vs. Notre Dame

It’s only fitting that UConn and Notre Dame get to meet again in the Final Four with a trip to the national title on the line. After three thrillers this year all ended up with Irish victories -- in addition to an overtime matchup in last year’s Final Four -- Geno Auriemma’s Huskies can take their pick of what they’re seeking revenge for.

For whatever reason, Notre Dame has owned a typically-dominant UConn squad of late. In seven matchups over the past two seasons, the Irish have won six, accounting for two thirds of the team’s losses over the past two seasons. Two in last year’s regular season, one of which went to overtime, then another overtime win in last year’s tournament. And this year, Notre Dame managed three squeakers: a 73-72 win behind 19 points from Skylar Diggins, a 96-87 triple overtime win where Notre Dame came back from multiple overtime deficits to seal the Big East regular season title, and a 61-59 Big East tournament win on a Natalie Achonwa layup with under two seconds to go.

Although they’ve lost over and over again, each game has come down to the wire. If a shot goes a different way here or there, this is an even rivalry. This one should be close again as women’s hoops’ best rivalry has another chapter.

Both teams have more or less coasted through the tournament thus far, and the only win by less than 20 points by either squad was Notre Dame’s 87-76 win over No. 2-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight.

Whoever wins this game has to be the favorite to take the national title. The two squads combined to lose two games against other opponents this year, and both came against Baylor, who were knocked out of the tournament thanks to a historic shooting performance from Louisville.

Here’s the info on Sunday night’s game:

When: 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans

TV: ESPN

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