In epic Final Four of overtimes, Mississippi State and Notre Dame advance to championship game
COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a Final Four of all No. 1 seeds, Mississippi State (37-1) sent Louisville (36-3) packing 73-63 and Notre Dame (34-3) took down previously undefeated UConn 91-89.
Both games went into overtime periods as gutsy plays down the stretch were plentiful as the teams battled for a chance to compete in the national championship on Sunday.
Junior center Teaira McCowan led MSU with a record-breaking performance that included 21 points plus 25 rebounds. Her rebounding total is a new NCAA Final Four record surpassing Charlotte Smith’s 23 from 1993. Senior guard Victoria Vivians was the leading scorer for the Bulldogs with 25 points plus four rebounds.
“Wow, so proud of my team today, as I have been all year,” said MSU head coach Vic Schaefer. “We talk about when things get a little bit tough and too tough for most people, when it gets really, really hard, that’s when it gets about right for us.”
Jackie Young and Arike Ogunbowale took hold of the reins for Notre Dame against UConn (36-1). Young had a double-double of a game-high 32 points plus 11 rebounds. Ogunbowale finished with 27 points.
Young and Ogunbowale were the difference-makers for Notre Dame.
“You know, one or two players really make the difference at this time of the year,” said UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. “I made this comment before, that when your team gets to the Final Four, it’s not your talent, and it’s not your team that’s going to beat the other team.”
The national championship will be played Sunday, April 1 at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.
