Basketball Canada’s Achonwa reaches Final Four with Notre Dame women
DAYTON (NCAA) - Natalie Achonwa is making a habit of playing in some very important basketball games.
Last year, she travelled to the Czech Republic to represent Canada at the FIBA World Championship for Women.
After returning to the United States to attend Notre Dame University and play for the Fighting Irish, the freshman has helped her college team reach the women's NCAA Tournament Final Four.
The Irish booked their ticket to Indianapolis on Monday night with a 73-59 upset of Tennessee in the final of the Dayton Regional.
Notre Dame had lost their previous 20 encounters to the Volunteers.
The Toronto-born Achonwa, a 1.90m freshman forward, played 24 minutes and had six rebounds, two assists and two steals to go with her two points.
Skylar Diggins scored 24 points and Natalie Novsel had 17.
Pat Summitt, the great basketball coach of Tennessee, tipped her hat to Diggins.
"She was terrific, without any doubt the best guard on the floor," Summitt said.
"She energizes that team. She was the real force."
Tennessee had won 85-75 against Ohio State in the Sweet 16 while Notre Dame advanced to the final with a 78-53 rout of Oklahoma.
In that victory over the Sooners, Achonwa had 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes.
She will this summer play for Canada at the FIBA Americas Championship for Women when Allison McNeill’s team tries to qualify for the London Olympics.
Stanford, who won in the Sweet 16 against North Carolina, prevailed 83-60 over Gonzaga in the Spokane Regional final.
Nnemkadi Ogwumike had 23 points and 11 rebounds and her sister Chiney weighed in with 18 points and 15 boards for the Cardinal.
There was also a Canadian in the Gonzaga team.
Janelle Bekkering started and played 31 minutes but was held to three points and four rebounds.
Courtney Vandersloot had 25 points and nine assists for Gonzaga, who had surprised Louisville in the Sweet 16.
In that triumph over the Cardinals, Bekkering had 15 points and three steals for Gonzaga.
On Tuesday night, Duke face the University of Connecticut in the Philadelphia Regional final and Baylor square off against Texas A&M in the Dallas Regional final.
