SB Nation Chicago - Women's 2012 NCAA Tournament: Notre Dame Falls To Baylor In Championship Gamehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2012-04-04T08:56:27-05:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26301632012-04-04T08:56:27-05:002012-04-04T08:56:27-05:00NCAA Women's Championship, Notre Dame Vs. Baylor: ND Coach Muffet McGraw Reflects On Game
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<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; ">The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> fell one game short of the NCAA Women's Championship for the second year in a row, this time running into the unstoppable force that was Brittney Griner and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/baylor-bears">Baylor Bears</a>. The Irish, like every team that Baylor faced this season en route to a 40-0 record, had no answer for Griner, and after the game Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw was effusive in her praise of the Baylor center:</span></p>
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<p>"I think she's one of a kind," McGraw said. "There's so many things she can do. There have been some guards that have had some skill like that. But as a post player, she's the best I've seen."</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">(<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/recap?gameId=320940239">via</a> ESPN)</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">McGraw also had kind words for her star, Skylar Diggins, who drove the Irish for much of the game but ultimately could not get them past Griner and the Bears. </p>
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<p>Diggins "played a great game," McGraw said. "She’s just a big-time player and she didn’t get a lot of help today."</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">(<a style="background-color: #ffffff; " href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/recap?gameId=320940239">via</a> ESPN)</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more updates on Notre Dame's women's NCAA Tournament run, stick with <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a> and check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://onefootdown.com/">One Foot Down</a>. For more on March Madness at every level, visit <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball" target="_blank">SB Nation NCAA Basketball</a>. Our <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://sbnation.com/2012-ncaa-tournament" target="_blank">2012 NCAA Tournament hub</a> has everything you need for the big one.</i></p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/depaul-blue-demons/2012/4/4/2924910/ncaa-womens-championship-notre-dame-baylor-muffet-mcgraw-quotesJordan Sargent2012-04-03T22:18:11-05:002012-04-03T22:18:11-05:00Women's NCAA Championship, Notre Dame Vs. Baylor Final Score: Irish Fall To Baylor 80-61
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<p>For the second season in a row, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have lost in the championship game of the Women's NCAA Tournament. On Tuesday night in Denver, Notre Dame was downed 80-61 as the Baylor Lady Bears completed their remarkable 40-0 season.</p>
<p>The Baylor victory was keyed by another massive effort from Brittney Griner, who ended the night with 26 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks on 11-of-16 shooting from the field. Teammates Odyssey Sims and Destiny Williams each added eight points. Brooklyn Pope finished with six points and four rebounds off the bench in the win.</p>
<p>Skylar Diggins powered Notre Dame in the loss, finishing with 20 points and three assists on 7-of-17 shooting. Kayla McBride added 11 points for the Irish.</p>
<p><i>For more updates on Notre Dame's women's NCAA Tournament run, stick with <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a> and check out <a href="http://onefootdown.com/">One Foot Down</a>. For more on March Madness at every level, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball">SB Nation NCAA Basketball</a>. Our <a target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/2012-ncaa-tournament">2012 NCAA Tournament hub</a> has everything you need for the big one.</i></p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/depaul-blue-demons/2012/4/3/2924255/baylor-womens-ncaa-championship-notre-dameRicky O'Donnell2012-04-03T20:47:38-05:002012-04-03T20:47:38-05:00NCAA Women's National Championship, Notre Dame Vs. Baylor Score Update: Fighting Irish Trail 34-28 At Halftime
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<p>The Notre Dame Fighting Irish trail the Baylor Lady Bears 34-28 at halftime of the NCAA Women's National Championship game. Baylor is attempted to complete a perfect 40-0 season. The Irish are trying to avoid losing back-to-back national championship games.</p>
<p>Baylor star Brittney Griner has nine points, eight rebounds, and three blocks at the half on 3-of-7 shooting. Teammates Odyssey Sims and Destiny Williams have also helped the scoring load, with each finishing with eight points. Brooklyn Pope added six points and four rebounds off the bench.</p>
<p>Skylar Diggins has nine points and two assists to lead Notre Dame. Devereaux Peters has scored five at the half for the Irish.</p>
<p><i>For more updates on Notre Dame's women's NCAA Tournament run, stick with <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a> and check out <a href="http://onefootdown.com/">One Foot Down</a>. For more on March Madness at every level, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball">SB Nation NCAA Basketball</a>. Our <a target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/2012-ncaa-tournament">2012 NCAA Tournament hub</a> has everything you need for the big one.</i></p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/depaul-blue-demons/2012/4/3/2924066/notre-dame-vs-baylor-score-update-ncaa-womens-championshipRicky O'Donnell2012-04-03T15:33:23-05:002012-04-03T15:33:23-05:002012 Women's NCAA Tournament TV Schedule: Notre Dame, Baylor Square Off At 7:30 P.M. CDT
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<p>The No. 1 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> square off against the No. 1 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/baylor-bears">Baylor Bears</a> on Tuesday night. The Bears -- undefeated through the regular season and postseason -- face the Irish in the Women's NCAA Tournament Championship Game.</p>
<p>Notre Dame enters the game having lost only three games all season, with one of those losses coming against the then No. 1 ranked Baylor. In that 94-81 game, the Bears shot an impressive .470 field goal percentage while the Fighting Irish were held to a .389 percentage. The Bears also out-rebounded the Irish, 47 to 35.</p>
<p><b>Game Time:</b> 7:30 p.m. CDT</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Pepsi Center, Denver, CO</p>
<p><b>Broadcast:</b> ESPN, <a href="http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/source/espn3/">ESPN3.com</a></p>
<p><i>For more updates on Notre Dame's women's NCAA Tournament run, stick with <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a> and check out <a href="http://onefootdown.com/">One Foot Down</a>. For more on March Madness at every level, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball">SB Nation NCAA Basketball</a>. Our <a target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/2012-ncaa-tournament">2012 NCAA Tournament hub</a> has everything you need for the big one.</i></p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/depaul-blue-demons/2012/4/3/2923270/ncaa-tournament-2012-womens-tv-scheduleBradley Woodrum2012-04-03T07:01:03-05:002012-04-03T07:01:03-05:002012 Women's NCAA Tournament Bracket And Schedule: Notre Dame Tries To Knock Off Undefeated Baylor
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> will attempt to do what no team has been able to accomplish this season: defeat the Baylor Lady Bears. Baylor enters 39-0 and with the most dominant player in the tournament, center Brittany Griner. The Irish got here by defeating Connecticut 83-75 in overtime on Sunday. Notre Dame is making its second straight appearance in the championship game. Last season, the Irish lost to Texas A&M.</p>
<p>Baylor defeated the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/stanford-cardinal">Stanford Cardinal</a> 59-47 to reach the title game. This will be the second meeting of the season between the two teams. In November, Baylor defeated the Fighting Irish 94-81 thanks to Griner's 32-point, 14 rebound effort.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><b>Game time/date: Tuesday, April 3, 6:30 p.m. MT</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><b>Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colo.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><b>TV: ESPN</b></p>
<p><i>For more updates on Notre Dame's women's NCAA Tournament run, stick with </i><i><a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a> </i><i>and check out </i><i><a href="http://onefootdown.com/">One Foot Down</a></i><i>. For more on March Madness at every level, visit <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball" target="_blank">SB Nation NCAA Basketball</a>. Our <a href="http://sbnation.com/2012-ncaa-tournament" target="_blank">2012 NCAA Tournament hub</a> has everything you need for the big one.</i></p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/depaul-blue-demons/2012/4/3/2921685/womens-ncaa-tournament-2012-schedule-bracketRicky O'Donnell2012-04-02T08:52:45-05:002012-04-02T08:52:45-05:00NCAA Women's Tournament Bracket 2012: Notre Dame Will Take On Top Ranked Baylor Bears
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<p>In order to win their first championship since 2001 the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> will have to give the top ranked <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/baylor-bears">Baylor Bears</a> their first loss since March 29, 2011. It will undoubtedly be a daunting task, but the Irish have been one of the best teams in women's basketball all season, and after defeating the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/connecticut-huskies">Connecticut Huskies</a> for the third time this season, should have sky high confidence going into Tuesday night's match up.</p>
<p>The Bears advanced by defeating the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/stanford-cardinal">Stanford Cardinal</a> 59-47, and what may be most concerning for the Irish is that Baylor did so despite star center Brittany Griner tallying way below her season averages in points and blocks. Griner only finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks on the night, but the Bears defense was suffocating, holding the Cardinal to 33% shooting including 2-17 from three point range.</p>
<p>Here is this year's title game match up:</p>
<h4>(1) Baylor Bears vs. (1) Notre Dame Fighting Irish</h4>
<p><i>For more updates on Notre Dame's women's NCAA Tournament run, stick with </i><i><a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a> </i><i>and check out </i><i><a href="http://onefootdown.com/">One Foot Down</a></i><i>. For more on March Madness at every level, visit <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball" target="_blank">SB Nation NCAA Basketball</a>. Our <a href="http://sbnation.com/2012-ncaa-tournament" target="_blank">2012 NCAA Tournament hub</a> has everything you need for the big one.</i></p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/depaul-blue-demons/2012/4/2/2919827/ncaa-womens-tournament-bracket-2012-notre-dame-baylorJordan Sargent2012-04-01T20:50:49-05:002012-04-01T20:50:49-05:00NCAA Women's Tournament 2012, Connecticut Vs. Notre Dame Final Score: Irish Take 83-75 Win In Overtime
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<p>In the fourth meeting between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Connecticut Huskies this season, the Irish were able to hold off a late UConn rally and pull out an 83-75 win in overtime on the strength of some clutch three-point shooting. The overtime period followed a frenetic last few minutes, which<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-0402-womens-ncaa-notre-dame-uconn--20120402,0,7346690.story"> saw the Huskies rally from six down</a> with about four minutes remaining.</p>
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<p>The Huskies fought back to tie it at 65-all with a 6-0 burst capped by a pair of free throws by Kelly Farris with 44.4 seconds remaining. Farris made two more free throws with 11.8 seconds left to give UConn a two-point [sic], but Novosel put in a layup with three seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.</p>
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<p>Natalie Novosel led the Irish with 20 points. Notre Dame will face either Stanford or Baylor in the national championship game.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; padding: 0px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For more updates on Notre Dame's women's NCAA Tournament run, stick with </i><i><a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com">SB Nation Chicago</a> </i><i style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">and check out </i><i><a href="http://onefootdown.com">One Foot Down</a></i><i style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">. For more on March Madness at every level, visit <a style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball">SB Nation NCAA Basketball</a>. Our <a style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/2012-ncaa-tournament">2012 NCAA Tournament hub</a> has everything you need for the big one.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/depaul-blue-demons/2012/4/1/2919124/ncaa-womens-tournament-2012-connecticut-vs-notre-dame-final-scoreSteven Muma2012-04-01T10:28:38-05:002012-04-01T10:28:38-05:00NCAA Women's Tournament 2012, Connecticut Vs. Notre Dame: Game Time, TV Schedule And More
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<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The </span><a style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> swept the season series vs. the </span><a style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/connecticut-huskies">Connecticut Huskies</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> in 2011-2012, but that may end up being the highlight of the Irish's season if they can't pull of win No. 3 over UConn in the Final Four tonight in Denver. Not only do the Huskies have the history on the big stage, but they also enter the game having had the last laugh between the teams when they claimed the Big East Tournament title with a 63-54 victory over the Irish on March 6.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The good news for the Irish is that they have a blueprint for how to beat the Huskies. In their two victories over UConn this season, Notre Dame stars Skylar Diggins and Natalie Novosel each averaged 21 points a game. In the team's loss in the Big East Tournament the two totaled only 24 points combined. The Irish also know they need to control the glass after UConn outrebounded them by 13 in their last meeting after Notre Dame grabbed 11 more boards in their final regular season match up.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Game date/time: </b>Sunday, April 1, 5:30 p.m. CT</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Location: </b>Pepsi Center, Denver, Colo.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">TV: </b>ESPN</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on March Madness at every level, visit <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball">SB Nation NCAA Basketball</a>. Our <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/2012-ncaa-tournament">2012 NCAA Tournament hub</a> has everything you need for the big one.</i></p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/depaul-blue-demons/2012/4/1/2918003/ncaa-womens-tournament-2012-connecticut-vs-notre-dame-game-time-tvJordan Sargent