Buzzer beater in overtime dooms UConn again

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Twelve months of painful memories, cringe-worthy moments, when the images of Morgan William’s shot that ended the UConn women’s basketball program’s bid for an unprecedented fifth straight national title stayed with players and coaches.

Now there will be a whole new set of nightmarish recollections to deal with as UConn was on the wrong end of last-second overtime heroics for a second straight season.

Arike Ogunbowale’s jumper with 1 second left gave Notre Dame a 91-89 overtime victory before a crowd of 19,564 at Nationwide Arena Friday night in the national semifinals. The Fighting Irish advance to meet Mississippi State in Monday night’s national championship game. It was William’s shot that led Mississippi State past UConn last season.

“It is harder to believe, obviously much harder than the first time,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “There were a lot of things that happened during the game, each team had a chance to prove what kind of a team they were. There was no backing down either way, just like last year it came down to one play, one shot and they made it.”

There are those who had to think nothing could be more difficult to deal with than last year’s loss to Mississippi State, but for Auriemma, the second time was indeed more painful than the first.

“The amount of times that we had to come back tonight, the end of regulation when we thought it was over and in overtime when it looked like it was over and we tied it,” Auriemma said. “We kept fighting back and fighting back, so it stings a little more when you have it happen after you experience that part of it.”

UConn (36-1) was down five points with 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter after a pair of foul shots by Ogunbowale. Napheesa Collier drained a 3-pointer and then back-to-back Notre Dame turnovers gave UConn a chance to steal the game.

The Notre Dame bench celebrates during the second half against Connecticut in the semifinals of the women's NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament, Friday, March 30, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) less The Notre Dame bench celebrates during the second half against Connecticut in the semifinals of the women's NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament, Friday, March 30, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP ... more Photo: Tony Dejak, Associated Press Photo: Tony Dejak, Associated Press Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close Buzzer beater in overtime dooms UConn again 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

The first resulted in a steal and layup by Kia Nurse and the second gave fellow senior Gabby Williams a chance to win the game. But her shot did not connect.

Notre Dame was once again up five in overtime, but a Collier basket, two misses at the foul line by Ogunbowale, an 80 percent free throw shooter, and a Crystak Dangerfield 3-pointer tied the game at 89 with 27 seconds remaining. That gave Notre Dame one last chance for Ogunbowale and she ended UConn’s season.

“I felt like I had a good matchup and got the shot off,” Ogunbowale said.

Ogunbowale had just three of her 27 points in the first quarter, but the Fighting Irish led by as many as 13 points and took a 24-14 lead into the second quarter.

Led by reserve Azura’ Stevens’ 10 points in the second quarter, UConn pulled in front by as many as 11 points. It was 41-34 at halftime.

Notre Dame (34-3) came all the way back and took the lead on 3-pointers by Marina Mabrey and then by Ogunbowale. Still, UConn took the 60-57 lead into the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a wild finish.

UConn led by eight points after a Dangerfield 3-pointer, but the Huskies couldn’t put the feisty Fighting Irish away.

“They made one more big play than we did, it came down to one play to win the game,” Williams said.

Spectacular and amazing were words the UConn players and coaches used to describe Young’s 32-point, 11-rebound performance. Jessica Shepard chipped in with 15 as Notre Dame now owns half of the eight wins over UConn in the Final Four.

Collier overcame a tough start to lead UConn with 24 points and Stevens had 19 points and eight rebounds. Katie Lou Samuelson had 16, but none in either the fourth quarter or overtime, when Notre Dame forced the nation’s highest scoring team into some rushed shots at the most crucial times.

“They started faceguarding a lot more and it was harder for the handoffs and ball screens that we like to get, so they did a good job of taking away the ball screen,” Williams said of UConn managing only one basket in a span of 5:29 in overtime.