COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP Friday’s tournament games
WOMEN
NCAA FINAL FOUR
Notre Dame 91, UConn 89, OT
COLUMBUS
Arike Ogunbowale’s jumper from the corner with 1 second left lifted Notre Dame to an overtime victory over UConn in the national semifinals. She finished with 27 points and Jackie Young had a career-high 32 to lead the Irish back to the championship 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. Last time it was Mississippi State and Morgan William, ending the Huskies’ 111-game win streak. The Irish will face the Bulldogs on Sunday night in the title game. Muffet McGraw’s squad will be looking for its second national championship to go with the one the Irish won in 2001. Ogunbowale had a chance to seal the game in the final minute of overtime, but she missed two free throws. Crystal Dangerfield then hit a 3-pointer to tie it at 89, setting up the fantastic finish. The Huskies threw the ball down the court after the 3, but didn’t get a chance to tie it.
Mississippi State 73, Louisville 63, OT
COLUMBUS
Teaira McCowan had 21 points and 25 rebounds to help Mississippi State reach the national championship game for the second straight year with an overtime win over Louisville. Down three points, Roshunda Johnson hit a 3-pointer from the wing to tie the game at 59 with seven seconds left in regulation. Louisville’s Myisha Hines-Allen then drove the length of the floor but missed a layup as time ran out with McCowan dogging her. In overtime, the Bulldogs asserted themselves and Morgan William made two free throws in the last minute to help Mississippi State (37-1) pull away. Louisville (36-3) managed just one basket on 10 shots in the extra period. McCowan broke the rebounding mark set by Charlotte Smith of North Carolina in 1994 when Mississippi State’s 6-foot-7 center grabbed her 24th board. Asia Durr scored 18 for Louisville (36-3), which was making its third appearance in the Final Four. Jazmine Jones added 15.
MEN
CBI CHAMPIONSHIP
North Texas 88, San Francisco 77
DENTON, TEXAS
Roosevelt Smart scored 25 points and made all 14 of his free throws, leading North Texas over San Francisco in the deciding Game 3 of the College Basketball Invitational finals. The Mean Green (20-18) lost the opener in the best-of-three matchup, but won 69-55 Wednesday to set up the championship game. Four of Smart’s points came during an 8-1 run in the second half after USF rallied within 52-51. He was fouled while shooting for the first two free throws, then added two more when San Francisco coach Kyle Smith drew a technical foul. Frankie Ferrari led the Dons (22-17) with 19 points. Nate Renfro added 18 and Chase Foster had 12. North Texas led 45-31 before USF began its comeback. Jorden Duffy scored 14 points and A.J. Lawson and Michael Miller each had 12.
Associated Press