Notre Dame’s Ogunbowale hits Clutch Three To Win National Championship

Upper Marlboro, MD – Brandon Williams

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have won the NCAA women’s national championship for the second time since the 2001 season!

This game was being dominated by the Mississippi State bulldogs who were up 30 to 17 at halftime and seemed to have the game well in hand. However, the luck of the Irish was not to be ignored on this night. Notre Dame pulled off another upset prior to the championship game after knocking off the UConn huskies 91-89 in overtime.

This was the second year in a row that the UConn Women’s basketball team has been knocked out of the semifinals under head coach Gene Auriemma.

Sports fans have become so accustomed to seeing UConn consistently dominate the competition, but on this night the Notre Dame women said not so fast.

“The way we finished, two games in a row to win at the buzzer, it couldn’t be more exciting” said coach Muffet McGraw.

McGraw not only celebrated a national championship win on Sunday, but she also celebrated her 800^th career win at Notre Dame.

The toughness and the will to never give up that her team showed throughout the game is a testament to how she prepares her team for big moments like this.

“It’s over, the job is over now” said Arike Ogunbowale.

Ogunbowale was not having the best night statistically. She was one for ten shooting during the first half and managed to finish the game with 18 points.

Even still, went into what she described as the “mamba mentality” when she put up the three-point game winning shot in homage to former Los Angeles Laker great Kobe Bryant. Bryant was seen at the semifinal game between Notre Dame and UConn sporting a UConn winter hat, but Ogunbowale was not phased by that at all. With vibranium in her veins she pulled up from three and sent her team to the national championship game.

“To win a national title like that for my team, it’s crazy” said Ogunbowale.

The Notre Dame fighting Irish are now sitting at the top of the mountain of women’s college basketball and can’t wait for what next years challenges will bring. The final score was 61-58.