Notre Dame shocks Tenn.; Stanford rolls

Associated Press

DAYTON

No team has ever been so happy to be 1-20.

Skylar Diggins scored 24 points and second-seeded Notre Dame made up for 28 years of beatings at the hands of Tennessee, upsetting the top-seeded Lady Vols 73-59 Monday night to earn a spot in the Final Four.

“We went into the locker room after the game and the first thing the team said was, “1 and 20! 1 and 20!” coach Muffet McGraw said with a laugh.

The Fighting Irish (30-7) came in 0-20 all-time against the Lady Vols. But the operative number on this night was 3-0 — Notre Dame’s record in regional championship games. The Irish are headed to the Final Four for the first time since 2001, when they won the national championship.

Natalie Novosel added 17 points and Becca Bruszewski — who didn’t practice Sunday and was listed as questionable to even play with a knee injury — had 13 for the Fighting Irish. Brittany Mallory chipped in with 10 points.

“It’s a surreal feeling, knowing that could have been my last game,” said Bruszewski, who got a new knee brace earlier on Monday. “But this team just came out ready to go. This is an unreal feeling.”

Notre Dame advances to the play the winner of tonight’s game between top-ranked Connecticut (35-1) and second-seeded Duke (32-3).

Taber Spani and Shekinna Stricklen had 13 points for the Lady Vols (34-3). Glory Johnson added 12.

“Obviously I’m very upset, I’m very disappointed in our basketball team,” coach Pat Summitt said after being stuck with loss number 199 of her career against 1,071 wins. “I don’t think we came here with the focus. Don’t ask me why. I’m kind of at a loss for words. We’ve got a ways to go, obviously. We were exposed today.”

Stanford 83, Gonzaga 60

SPOKANE, Wash.

Nnemkadi Ogwumike dominated the inside with 23 points and 11 rebounds, sister Chiney chipped in with 18 points, and Stanford is headed back to its fourth straight Final Four after the top-seeded Cardinal ended the surprising run of Gonzaga.

There was no stopping the dynamic Stanford (33-2) duo, who scored seemingly every way around the basket.

It didn’t help that Gonzaga (31-5) started the second half missing 11 of 12 shots and saw Stanford’s lead balloon to 21.