Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/973680
22 MAY 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED the score at 41, thanks mainly to ba- sically scrapping the half-court sets and pushing the tempo. The Irish took two-point leads sev- eral times in the final 10 minutes, but were never able to get enough sepa- ration while holding MSU without a field goal for eight minutes. With fatigue finally appearing to catch up to Notre Dame, the Bull- dogs appeared to apply the dagger when Roshunda Johnson's three- pointer with 1:58 left gave them a 58-53 cushion. However, Mabrey answered with her own three — the first of the eve- ning for Notre Dame — with 1:35 re- maining. After McCowan picked up her fourth foul, Westbeld fed Young, whose short bank shot knotted the score at 58 with 45 seconds left. MSU set up McCowan for a point-blank layup under the bas- ket that missed and was rebounded by Mabrey, who turned it over on her end of the court before she and Young forced an MSU turnover near midcourt that resulted in McCowan fouling out. That set up Ogunbowale's final shot — and a 2-of-2 ending by the Irish beyond the arc in the final two minutes after the 0 of 7 stat line the first 38 minutes. Champions have a knack of pos- sessing the clutch gene. ✦ "THEY REALLY DUG DEEP, THE FIGHTING IRISH SPIRIT. THEY WOULD JUST NOT BE DENIED. SUCH RESILIENCE, PERSEVERANCE — A GREAT LIFE LESSON FOR THEM." HEAD COACH MUFFET MCGRAW FROM THE BIG DANCE TO 'DANCING WITH STARS' After converting back-to-back and dramatic last-second, game-winning baskets versus Connecticut and Mississippi State in the NCAA Tournament that is known as "The Big Dance," the tourney's Most Outstanding Player has been invited to do more dancing. Beginning with the premiere April 30, the 26th season of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars," Ogun- bowale will be paired with professional dancer Gleb Savchenko in a competition that will feature 10 pairs of dancers matched with athletes over a four-week stretch. While Ogunbowale won't be permitted by NCAA rules to engage in commercial promotions for the show, she would be allowed to keep any money won there because it does not pertain to basketball. The Milwaukee native has become a media sensation, including appearing on "The Ellen Show" with her basketball idol Kobe Bryant and making the cover of Sports Illustrated. Oh, and on April 21-22 she went to Colorado Springs to compete in the 2018 USA Basketball 3x3 Championships. — Lou Somogyi By The Numbers 15 The margin Notre Dame trailed by against Mississippi State (40-25) before rallying to the 61-58 victory. It was the largest comeback in a championship game in NCAA Tournament history, dating back to 1982. 17 Years to the day — April 1, 2001 — that Notre Dame won its first na- tional title. It did so again this April 1, which this year was also Easter Sunday. No fooling. 19 Three-pointers converted by junior guard Marina Mabrey in 37 NCAA Tournament attempts (51.4 percent) — none more crucial than her final one with the Irish trailing Mississippi State 58-53 with 1:35 remaining. She was three short of matching the record of 22 treys made in an NCAA Tournament. 32 Career high in points sophomore guard Jackie Young tallied in the 91-89 semifinal win versus No. 1 Connecticut. It was the seventh highest total ever in a Final Four contest. 73-1 Combined record of No. 1 UConn (36-0) and No. 2 Mississippi State (37-1) when they played Notre Dame in the Final Four matchups, prior to losing to the Irish. 145 Points tallied by junior guard Arike Ogun- bowale (24.2 average), the fifth most ever in NCAA Tournament annals. It surpassed the school record of 139 set by Ruth Riley (seventh most) during the 2001 national title run. 800 Career victories at Notre Dame by head coach Muffet McGraw following the ti- tle game triumph. There are six coaches in NCAA history with at least 800 wins, eight Final Fours and five title games: McGraw, Geno Auriemma and Pat Summitt in the women's game, and Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams on the men's side. — Lou Somogyi PHOTO BY MIKE BENNETT