Winning the third championship

The best shot of the five final fours before this season to win it all was probably the 2011 final. The final game vs Texas A&M still stings because ND should have won that one.

We didn't match up well vs Baylor in the 2012 final. UConn knocked ND out in the semis in 2013, after ND had beaten UConn in the three prior meetings that season.

In 2014, ND was 37 - 0 heading into the final game but without Natalie Achonwa, who tore her ACL near the end of elite 8 game vs Baylor. If Ace had been able to play, we would have had a much better chance vs UConn -- not a guarantee, but we would have had a chance.

In the 2015 final, a 36 and 2, ND team squared off against UConn in a defensive battle -- with UConn winning 63 to 53. ND trailed by 8 at the half and could never close the gap in the second half. Jewell Loyd was held to just 12 points on 4 for 18 shooting in her last game at ND. Taya Reimer was 3 for 11 and had 6 turnovers. She did grab 11 rebounds. Lindsay Allen was only 3 for 12 from the field with 5 turnovers to go with 7 assists. Brianna Turner, just a freshman, was ND's best player that night -- 7 for 9 from the field for 14 points and 10 rebounds.

UConn won the game from beyond the arc -- the Huskies hit 8 of 23 threes, while ND only managed 3 for 11. ND had one more two point field goal and went 8 for 8 from the line, while UConn was just 5 for 7.

For the game, ND out rebounded UConn 45 to 34. Breanna Stewart only scored 8 points, but corralled 15 rebounds. UConn shot 41% from the field, ND only managed 33.3%. UConn's 10 steals led to 17 total ND turnovers. UConn only turned the ball over 12 times.

Looking ahead, we should have a great shot for the third title next season -- but nothing is guaranteed and nothing is easy.