COLUMBUS (AP) — Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale hit a jumper from just inside the arc with a second left for a 91-89 overtime victory over previously unbeaten UConn in the women’s NCAA semifinals at Nationwide Arena Friday night.
The Fighting Irish will play for their second national title on Sunday after years of being denied by the Huskies, who faced a stunning exit.
Ogunbowale finished with 27 points and Jackie Young had a career-high 32 to send Notre Dame to the title game for the first time since 2015.
It’s the second consecutive year an undefeated UConn team lost in the Final Four on a last-second shot in overtime. Mississippi State did it to the Huskies last season, and the Bulldogs are going back to the title game after surprising Louisville.
Victoria Vivians led Mississippi State with 25 points in a 63-53 overtime victory against the Cardinals.
Louisville was about to celebrate a berth in the title game until Roshunda Johnson drained a 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds left, extending the game.