Arike Ogunbowale stepped back and drained a deep two-point shot in the final seconds of a chaotic, beautiful, terrifying and altogether magical masterpiece by two of the greatest teams in all of college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to beat the previously undefeated Connecticut Huskies, 91-89.
Notre Dame beats UConn in overtime on Arike Ogunbowale game-winner
WHAT A FINISH!
This game will go down as an instant classic.
The Huskies and Irish played a legendary game led by legendary coaches on the biggest stage of college hoops between two teams that were relentless for every last second of a 45-minute game. Just when the Huskies looked to be too far ahead, the Irish came storming back. With Notre Dame up five points with 21 seconds left, Connecticut came marching back.
No fanbase could ever feel confident about this game until the final buzzer sounded, as Katie Lou Samuelson nearly tied the game to send the game into a second overtime.
This game was UConn’s from the second quarter until the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Katie Lou Samuelson had 16 points, including four three-pointers. Gabby Williams filled the stat sheet with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Azura Stevens, the transfer, came up huge with 19 points and eight rebounds. After Notre Dame forward Jessica Shepard sprained her ankle in the second half it looked like UConn would steer the ship home. Then Jackie Young took over.
This game should have ended in regulation. Notre Dame was up by FIVE POINTS with TWENTY-ONE SECONDS left. Somehow, Connecticut marched back after Napheesa Collier hit a three-point shot, and Kia Nurse stole the ball for a breakaway layup to put the game into overtime.
Ultimately, Notre Dame’s wings were too much. Young scored 32 points on 15 shots, Ogunbowale had 27 points on 21 shots, and Shepard had 15 points and 11 rebounds.
This loss will sting for Geno Auriemma’s group, while Muffet McGraw’s Irish get a signature moment that will be talked about for years.
See More:
