Written by Zach Bartkus
TAMPA, FL. – A heavyweight matchup went down Friday night between the 2-seeded University of Connecticut Huskies and 1-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The well-anticipated rematch of a semi-final game from last year’s Women’s Final Four game lived up to the hype as it was a close game all the way through.
Although at the beginning of the first quarter, shots were not falling for Notre Dame and it showed. The Irish were just 2-14 from the field at one point and were trailing the Huskies 13-4. The Irish would get themselves back in the game by going on a 14-2 scoring run to end the first quarter and begin the second. Jessica Shepherd led that scoring run for the Irish with eight of the 14 points to put the Irish up by four, 22-18.
After the Irish’s long scoring run the game would quickly turn into a back and forth shootout. Both teams would remain within two points of one another for the last seven minutes of the second quarter. Both teams showing they’re not ready for their season to end earlier than it possibly could.
The Huskies’ Katie Lou Samuelson started off the scoring in the third quarter and would also end it. She stepped up big time for Connecticut scoring 15 of their 24 points that quarter. In Connecticut’s last three possessions they scored 9 points, all by one person, Katie Lou Samuelson. She has been the Huskies’ best player throughout this entire season, and she didn’t shy away from being exactly that tonight.
The fourth quarter was led by the Huskies’ until there was just 4:25 left in the game. Notre Dame went on an 8-0 scoring run right when they needed. They were down by six points but after the minute where the Irish couldn’t miss they were leading 68-66 with 3:56 remaining. Notre Dame did not slow down after they put their foot on the gas, they would surrender the lead twice but only by one point each time.
The Irish would not stop pushing, and it would pay off in the end as they would control the final minute of the game and come away with a significant victory over Katie Lou Samuelson and the Connecticut Huskies, 81-76. Senior guard, Arike Ogunbowale would lead the Irish to the win with 23 points, six rebounds, and an assist.
The NCAA Women’s National Championship game is set for Sunday, April 7th as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take on the Baylor Bears at Amalie Arena.
