SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Team will make its 10th straight appearance in the Sweet 16 after a dominant win over Michigan State.
In the second round of the NCAAW Tournament, Notre Dame won on its own turf 91-63 of Michigan State. Irish forward Brianna Turner recorded a 14 point, 11 rebound double-double to become the Notre Dame leader in rebounds.
The Michigan State starters only combined for 25 points from three players, while Arike Ogunbowale scored 23 for Notre Dame. Four Notre Dame starters landed double digit scoring, Jessica Shepard, Jackie Young, Turner and Ogunbowale.
Notre Dame (32-3), the number 1 seed, ran away with the game with a 14-0 run to end the first half. The defending National Champions controlled the post on both ends, winning both offensive and defensive rebounds. Notre Dame was up 26 points at the half, 52-26. Sydney Cooks and Shay Colley brought the same energy as they had in the Spartan’s win over Central Michigan, but Notre Dame big four kept them from finding success.
Notre Dame made 47.9 percent of its shots, including 30.8 from outside the circle and 68 from the foul line. Dwarfed in comparison, Michigan State shot 37.3 percent, 26.3 for three-pointers and 61.5 percent of free throws.
Ogunbowale now has over 2,500 career points at Notre Dame. She is the first to do so in history at Notre Dame. Michigan State loss was its worst in school tournament history.
The Irish have beaten its last 11 opponents by 29.8 ppg, and will look to do so again against 4-seed Texas A&M in Chicago Saturday. A&M (29-7) won 78-76 from a clutch 3 over Marquette.
SCORES BY QUARTERS
ND: 25 27 21 18
MSU: 14 12 17 20
MSU: L. ALLEN 5 0 2/3 12; N. CLOUDEN 0 2 2/4 8; S. COLLEY 2 0 1/2 5; N. HOLLIE 1 0 1/2 3; S. COOKS 7 1 0/0 17; K/ BELLES 5 0 0/0 10.
ND: J. SHEPARD 9 0 1/2 19; B. TURNER 5 0 4/5 14; M. MABREY 1 0 0/0 2; A. OGUNBOWALE 6 2 5/6 23; J. YOUNG6 1 6/921.
