Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1007651
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2018 53 unable to practice most of the time with an ailing ankle, junior Marina Mabrey had to learn to play point guard for the first time ever, junior Jessica Shepard — who had ACL sur‑ gery herself a few years earlier — was adjusting as a transfer, and junior and leading scorer Arike Ogunbowale embraced a "go to" role in the clutch. A year earlier in a 76‑75 loss to Stan‑ ford in the Elite Eight, Ogunbowale bypassed a short shot to drive to the basket in the final seconds, and had her shot blocked to end the season. Augmenting the "Iron Five" was fifth‑year senior Kristina Nelson, who took an unofficial school‑record 19 charges, freshman Danielle Pat‑ terson in a development stage, and three new walk‑ons to aid practice. A 100‑67 loss at Louisville Jan. 11 was one of the worst fiascos in Mc‑ Graw's 31 years here, and a week later the Irish trailed Tennessee at home by 23 points before the biggest comeback victory in the program's history. Day by day, a chemistry and re‑ silience continued to build before also surviving and advancing in the NCAA Tournament. First, Notre THE YEAR IN REVIEW A year of 'C's, including championships, enveloped 2017-18 school year Arike Ogunbowale's (far left, No. 24) "Easter Basket" as time expired not only won Notre Dame its second national title in 2018, but left an indelible image in NCAA basketball for many years and generations to come. FIGHTING IRISH DIGITAL MEDIA