TAMPA, Fla. (AP) _ The Baylor Lady Bears fought off adversity before capturing their first NCAA women’s basketball championship in seven years.
Baylor coughed up a 17-point lead and lost star forward Lauren Cox in an 82-81 victory over Notre Dame in the championship game at Tampa. Chloe Jackson provided the tiebreaking layup with 3.9 seconds left, but the Irish had a chance to force overtime until Arike Ogunbowale (ah-REE’-kay oh-goon boh-WAH’-lee) missed the first of two free throws. Ogunbowale hit a buzzer-beating jumper to give Notre Dame the title last year.
Cox injured a knee late in the third quarter and didn’t return.
Jackson finished with 26 points and Kalani Brown had 20 for Baylor. Ogunbowale led all scorers with 31 points.
