Arike Ogunbowale: Notre Dame's Secret Weapon

Let's all be completely honest with ourselves, no one watches women's basketball because every game is a given. There's no competition within the sport right? Uconn's team will dominate any team that comes in their path, no questions asked. I mean, they are back, to back, to back, to back champions, not to mention were also undefeated. Well, if you thought that this season, I'm sorry to say that you are wrong.

If you disregarded the Notre Dame vs. UConn game on last Friday, you may have missed one of the most jaw dropping games this season in women's college basketball. Notre Dame had complete control of the entire game against Uconn up until the end of the second quarter of the game. Uconn was even able to get their lead up to 11. However, Notre Dame fought back and did not allow the huskies to keep that lead for long. Keeping the lead all the way until the end of the game, you would think "maybe Notre Dame is really going to pull this off" until senior, Kia Nurse, makes a layup with ten seconds left tying the game at 79. Notre Dame commits a turnover and you think that's it, Uconn is about to do what Uconn does and make their way to the championship to face Mississippi St. But, Gabby Williams misses the jumper. Although Kathryn Westbeld manages the rebound, there is not enough time to take the lead. We go into over time.

Once in overtime, Notre Dame shows that they are the dominate team, yet again. However, it was almost like deja vu when Connecticut ties the game again with 29 seconds left. With a game tied at 89 and the the opportunity to go to the championship is on the line, Arike Ogunbowale takes a last second jumper with just two seconds to go... and nails it. Ogunbowale did not have the most points for the fighting Irish, the most rebounds, or the most assists, but what she did have was the last shot that counted the most.

If you watched this game, and though Arike Ogunbowale just had a lucky night, then the championship game may have made you eat you own words. Although Mississippi St. maintained the lead throughout majority of the game, Notre Dame fought back hard enough to gain the lead in the last quarter. Mississippi St. still had a five point lead with two minutes left in the game. Arike Ogunbowale still is not a leader in points, rebounds, or assists in this game, however, with one second left, Ogunbowale nails a 3-point shot making Notre Dame NCAA women's basketball champions.