UConn women lose to Irish 83-75 in overtime

April 01, 2012 12:00 am • Last Updated: April 02, 2012 12:11 am

By Mike DiMauro
Day Assistant Sports Editor

m.dimauro@theday.com

UConn's Stefanie Dolson, left, and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis react as Notre Dame players celebrate their 83-75 win over the Huskies in NCAA Final Four semi-final action at the Pepsi Center Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Denver. The Irish prevailed in overtime to advance to Tuesday's national championship game.

Denver — Brittany Mallory scored seven of her 11 points in overtime, including a pair of big 3-pointers, as Notre Dame defeated UConn 83-75 on Sunday night in a wild NCAA women's basketball tournament national semifinal game between the two Big East rivals.

It was the second straight year that Notre Dame (35-3) has eliminated the UConn in the national semifinals. The Huskies finish 33-5, three of those losses coming to the Irish, who will play the winner of Sunday's second game between Baylor and Stanford in Tuesday's championship.

UConn, which trailed 65-61 with 1:24 left in regulation, scored six straight points — including four straight free throws by Kelly Faris, to take a 67-65 lead with 11.8 seconds left, but Natalie Novosel banked in an offensive rebound with 4.4 seoonds remaining to force the overtime.

Sophomore center Stefanie Dolson led UConn with 20 points and eight rebounds while point guard Bria Hartley added 18 points. Novosel had 20 points and Skylar Diggins 19 for Notre Dame.

UConn head coach gets pulled off the court by referee Dennis DeMayo during play against Notre Dame in NCAA Final Four semifinal action at the Pepsi Center Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Denver.

UConn's Bria Hartley, right, Stefanie Dolson and the rest of the Huskies arrive at the Pepsi Center for their NCAA Final Four semi-final against Notre Dame in Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Denver.

The UConn mascot, Jonathan the Husky, revs up the fans during a pep-rally at the Colorado Convention Center Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Denver.

UConn's Bria Hartley and Tiffany Hayes tie-up Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins in NCAA Final Four semifinal action at the Pepsi Center Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Denver.

UConn's Bria Hartley runs Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins off a Stefanie Dolson pick in NCAA Final Four semifinal action at the Pepsi Center Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Denver.

UConn's Kia Stokes, (41), and Stefanie Dolson, extreme right, poke the ball away from Notre Dame's Devereaux Peters in NCAA Final Four semifinal action at the Pepsi Center Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Denver.

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