Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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wasn't there from the get-go. They got comfortable. They got into a rhythm, and it went downhill from there." Keeping Notre Dame within strik- ing distance at halftime, when it trailed only 45-38, was 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range, particularly in the closing minutes. Sophomore Michaela Mabrey scored 10 first-half points off the bench and drilled two treys, while classmate Jewell Loyd converted back- to-back threes to pull the Irish within 43-38. Although Notre Dame changed its defensive strategy and lineup several times, including a triangle-and-two, there were no answers to stop the inside dominance of UConn. In need of a strong start to the sec- ond half, the Irish offense was unable to get on track against the long, smoth- ering, shot-blocking and shot-alter- ing Connecticut defenders, tallying a paltry 20 points after the intermission while shooting only 25 percent from the floor, including 1 of 11 beyond the arc, which was its main life line in the first half. McGraw believes the Irish offense, knowing it was overmatched, began to press too much. "We were just trying so hard, and we went one on one instead of — our game has been team and assists and work- ing the ball together," McGraw said. "I thought we tried to go a little bit too much off the dribble." Notre Dame still was in it while trail- ing 47-40, but the wheels came off when the Huskies went on a 16-2 run to make the score 63-42 and cruise to another title. Playing her final game in an Irish uni- form, McBride finished with 21 points on 8-of-18 shooting. Loyd had 13 points on 4-of-15 shooting, while Mabrey — who did not score in the second half — finished with 10. Each of the last four seasons, a domi- nant post presence did in Notre Dame at the Final Four. In the 2011 final, Texas A&M's Dani- elle Adams tallied 30 points to rally the Aggies to a 76-70 win. One year later in the championship contest, Baylor's 6-8 Brittney Griner scored 26 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked five shots in the 80-61 win. Last year in the de facto national ti- tle game, Stewart dominated with 29 points and four blocks, and this time she and Dolson overwhelmed the Irish. Height can't be taught. Meanwhile, Notre Dame will look to maintain the heights it has consistently been achieving. ✦ Road To The Title Game March 22: Notre Dame 93, Robert Morris 42 The 51-point victory was the largest ever posted by the program in an NCAA Tournament game. The game was put away early with an 18-4 lead that ballooned to 50-15 by halftime. Five Irish players scored in double figures, led by sophomore Michaela Mabrey's 16 on the strength of 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range. March 24: Notre Dame 88, Arizona State 71 A tight first half saw the Irish lead only 32-26 at the break. Senior Natalie Achonwa posted her 27th