Irish stop Buckeyes, earn Elite Eight bid
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Arike Ogunbowale had a career-high 32 points, Lindsay Allen added 16 and Notre Dame easily beat Ohio State 99-76 on Friday night in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Playing five days after losing star forward Brianna Turner to a season-ending left knee injury, the topseeded Irish posted their third-highest output this season while also scoring the most points against the Buckeyes. Ogunbowale seemed almost unstoppable in making 11 of 22 from the field to top her previous high by two points.
Besides Allen, the Irish got 14 points and a careerhigh nine rebounds from freshman forward Erin Boley, a Kentucky native who started in Turner's place. The Irish tied one season best with 12 3-pointers on a season-high 24 attempts and made 19 of 20 free throws for a thorough win.
Notre Dame (33-3) also used a 30-point third quarter to build an 80-65 lead that wasn't seriously threatened as it reached Sunday's Lexington Region final against the winner between No. 2 seed Stanford and No. 3 seed Texas.
Kelsey Mitchell had 18 points for No. 5 seed Ohio State (28-7), which was outrebounded 42-30 and outscored 38-34 inside.
The Irish meshed hustle, crisp passing and a go-forbroke shooting approach from outside to make up for the height disadvantage created by Turner's injury. Boley's second start in three games was her best and helped her team establish the outside game it needed for a win that showed how deep the Irish are. Marina Mabrey had 14 points and Jackie Young 13 as six scored in double figures. Kathryn Westbeld had 11 rebounds and 10 points, giving Turner a lot to like as she watched from the bench.
Notre Dame faces the winner of No. 2 seed Stanford vs. No. 3 seed Texas in Sunday's regional final.
Teaira McCowan scored 20 of her career-high 26 points in the fourth quarter, and Mississippi State defeated Washington 75-64 on Friday night to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time.
McCowan, a 6-foot-7 sophomore center who entered the game averaging just over eight points per game, made 9 of 10 field goals in the final 10 minutes. She scored 11 points in the first 2:33 of the fourth quarter to turn a two-point deficit into a seven-point lead for the second-seeded Bulldogs (32-4).
Plum scored 29 points and Chantel Osahor added 17 points and 11 rebounds in their final games for thirdseeded Washington, (29-6) which reached the Final Four last season.
Mississippi State led 38-29 at halftime. Plum exploded for 10 points in the third quarter, and the defense picked up to help Washington take a 50-48 lead into the fourth quarter before McCowan took over.
Last season ended with a 60-point loss to Connecticut in the Sweet 16, an experience coach Vic Schaefer said helped prepare his team for this season.
No. 2 Stanford (31-5) earned a 77-66 win over No. 3 Texas (25-9) in Lexington, Ky.
Erica McCall led the Cardinal with 23 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.
Ariel Atkins paced the Longhornswith 18 points, four rebounds on two assists.
No. 1 Baylor (33-3) had no trouble dispatching No. 4 Louisville (29-8) 97-63.
Nina Davis paced the Bears with 21 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
Myisha Hines-Allen chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds.