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A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 3 april 2018
Irish eyes are rocking: Notre Dame lifted by wild title win

By DOUG FEINBERG they had a huge rally for us
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — It and that was fun."
took a historic comeback McGraw says she's ready
and an epic shot to give for some down time and
Notre Dame its second na- happy to bask in the title.
tional championship. The Hall of Fame coach
The last-second 3-pointer was noncommittal whether
by Arike Ogunbowale that the team would visit the
lifted the Irish over Mississip- White House if invited.
pi State 61-58 Sunday night "We'll discuss it with the
was a riveting — and fitting team and make a decision
— conclusion to the great- if the offer is extended," Mc-
est women's Final Four, Graw told The Associated
and maybe any basketball Press by phone Monday.
championship. There's no reason to think
Coach Muffet McGraw's Notre Dame couldn't re-
team has been the come- peat as champions next
back queens of the NCAA year. Most of the team is
Tournament, with Ogun- back and the Irish will get
bowale conjuring a bit of the return of Brianna Turner
magic, not once, but twice. — one of four players side-
The junior guard provided lined this season with knee
an astonishing encore to ligament injuries.
her game-winning shot that Members of Notre Dame celebrate with the trophy after defeating Mississippi State in the final of Even if they do win it all
the women's NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 1, 2018, in Columbus,
beat UConn in the Final Ohio. Notre Dame won 61-58. again next season, it will be
Four two days earlier. That Associated Press nearly impossible to repeat
capped another double- the drama of this run.
digit rally. The Irish had to before finally getting on A 16-1 run to end the third said. "Phenomenal for women's
come back from halftime tracky. Ogunbowale epit- quarter tied the game. Notre Dame returned to basketball. Three exciting
deficits in their last four omized the Irish struggles A back-and-forth last campus Monday, busing games. I hope the ratings
NCAA games. on offense. She was 1-for- 10 minutes ended when back from Columbus and reflect it," McGraw said af-
"The fighting spirit of Notre 10 from the field in the first Ogubowale hit her off-bal- greeted by a few thousand ter the game. "The crowd
Dame is just amazing," half and missed her first two ance floater from in front fans. Ogunbowale's shot was tremendous tonight.
McGraw said. "Relentless, shots in the third quarter. of Notre Dame's bench to was on constant play on Everybody came back.
competitive. They have a The frustration was boiling give the Irish to their first title the bus. Just an incredible job by
swagger, they believe in over as she punched the since 2001. The 3-pointer "Watching the shot again, Columbus and the local
themselves with the confi- padded support behind from the wing came from again and again and see- community. Great support
dence that starts with Arike the basket. nearly the same angle as ing everyone's reaction for women's basketball and
and Marina (Mabrey) and But then it all started to her shot that beat the Hus- was special," McGraw said. definitely one of the best Fi-
just filters down through the turn. The resiliency the Irish kies. "We have so many former nal Fours since 2001, right?"
team." had shown all season while "To do that twice in one players there, 25 from all Sunday's national cham-
The Irish found themselves dealing with four season- weekend, the biggest different years. We were pionship came 17 years to
down 30-17 at the half ending knee injuries was stage in college basketball, celebrating for them. We the day of the Irish's only
and 15 in the third quarter there. it's crazy," Ogunbowale got back to campus and other one.q

A 50-50 prospect: Commonwealth Games offers medal equality

Gold Coast 2018 chairman At Glasgow four years ago, being given to our female
Peter Beattie previewed women were compet- athletes.
the games which start ing for 48.5 percent of the "It is wonderful to be part of
Wednesday by promoting medals. With the addition this generation and to be
the 50-50l gender balance of three additional events part of the change and in-
for the medals on offer at in cycle, three in boxing clusion."
the 21st edition of the Com- and one in weightlifting, Kaye Scott, the only mem-
monwealth Games. organizers say parity has ber of Australia's boxing
"This is the first multisport been achieved. team for 2018 who compet-
event ever where there Anna Meares, a multiple ed at Glasgow four years
will be the same number Olympic and world cham- ago, said the increase from
of medals for women as pion cyclist, won gold three to six weight divisions
for men — it has not hap- medals at the 2006, 2010 for women was "a wonder-
pened at the Common- and 2014 Commonwealth ful move in the right direc-
wealth Games before or Games after kicking off her tion for equality in female
the Olympic Games," Beat- career with a bronze at the sport.
In this file photo from March 16, 2006, Australia's Anna Meares tie said. "So we are going to 2002 edition in Manchester. "Eventually I'd love to see
pedals on the way to winning the cycling track Women's 500m make history. There are 133 "From an athlete's perspec- the full 10 weight divisions
Time Trial Final at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, women's and 133 men's tive, what I have achieved offered." As well as the ex-
Australia. events, and nine mixed over 16 years at four Com- tra events in cycling and
Associated Press open events, for example, monwealth Games, wom- boxing, another big boost
By JOHN PYE Games organizers, the in shooting and lawn bowls. en today can do in two," to women's participation
GOLD COAST, Australia Gold Coast presents a case That is why we are very Meares said. "That speaks was the inclusion of of
(AP) — For Commonwealth for all things being equal. proud of this." volumes for the opportunity women's rugby sevens. q