It just wasn’t meant to be for our good Nurse
It was “buckle your seatbelts” for a weekend buffet of intoxicating basketball.
Columbus, Ohio, hosted the 2018 NCAA Women’s Final Four Basketball Championship at the end of Holy Week and 19,564 spectators packed Nationwide Arena — the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets — for semifinal action on Good Friday and the final on Easter Sunday.
Loyola’s chaplain, Sister Jean, was not in the house but Kobe Bryant was.
“The Black Mamba” and his family witnessed history on the hard court in the semifinal matchup between UConn and Notre Dame.
For the second consecutive year, the heralded Huskies fell in overtime.
Last year, it was Mississippi State Bulldogs who dismissed UConn. This year, it was the Fighting Irish.
With the score tied at 79, ND’s Arika Ogunbowale stopped and popped with 1.6 seconds left in OT.
Nothing but net.
“I wanted to show my ‘Mamba Mentality,’” the All American said.
However, the game would have never gone to extra minutes without UConn’s “Minister of Defence” Kia Nurse.
Trailing 79-74 with 21.3 seconds remaining in regulation, UConn junior Napheesa Collier hit a trey.
Huskies down by two. That’s when “The Minister” stepped up and did what she does best. Play defence with fire.
Earlier in the week, Nurse was recognized by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) as the best defensive clawed our way back into it and made big play after big play.”
When asked to comment on the contribution of his two seniors, Gabby Williams and Nurse, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said, “When they look back they’re going to look at what an amazing career they both had and what a great impact they had on Connecticut and the people they’ve come in contact with at Connecticut.”
That was evident as UConn kids in the crowd (at Nationwide Arena) held up signs thanking the super seniors: “We’ll Miss Ya’ Kia & Gabby.” They sure will.
A large contingent of supporters from Hamilton made the trip to Columbus in support of Kia.
Eight members of McMaster’s 1990 bronze medal women’s basketball team were in attendance.
Among the cheerleaders: Mac Sports Hall of Famer (2003) Gloria Tomasevic (mom of talented Mac quarterback, Jackson White); Tish Jeffrey (department head Glendale physical and health education); and Cathy Doucette (mom of Kia Nurse). All members of that 1990 memorable Mac team.