#MambaMentality

The fighting Irish has had one of the most difficult seasons, facing adversity. The team faced four ACL tears, but yet they overcame.

This NCAA Tournament has been about one special player, in particular, Arika Ogunbowale, the junior guard for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame, the number one seed had to face Connecticut who was also number one in the semifinals.

That game went back and forth, going into overtime leaving the Huskies short. During the final seconds of overtime, Ogunbowale hits a pull-up jumper for the game-winning shot with the final score of 91-89.

Holly Rowe from ESPN asked Ogunbowale about the game-winner, she said,

"I wanted the mamba mentality."

After saying that Kobe quickly congratulated Ogunbowale with a tweet:

While Ogunbowale and the rest of the fighting Irish celebrated their win over Connecticut, the Mississippi State bulldogs awaited them for the championship game.

Ogunbowale later found out about Kobe Bryant acknowledgment to her shot and said her life was complete but Mamba had another message for her:

Sunday, the fighting Irish knew the bulldogs would be a challenge especially facing Teaira McCowan, a six-foot-seven-inch center.

Notre Dame started out playing with tempo to begin the game, which made Mississippi State have a slow start.

Once the first quarter went by, the bulldogs seemed to settle in and start playing their game.

Mississippi State was the aggressor on both sides of the court. Their defense caused Notre Dame to have many turnovers. Mississippi State only allowed the fighting Irish to score three points the entire quarter.

On the other end of the court, the bulldogs went on a seven-point run. The bulldogs up at halftime 17-30.

Mississippi State's momentum did not last long as McCowan was benched for getting her third foul at the beginning of third quarter.

Notre Dame quickly picked up that the bulldogs' key player was out and took advantage of that time.

While McCowan was out it became a point guards' game. Notre Dame got momentum and started attacking the basket.

Mississippi State as a whole was in foul trouble, this helped the fighting Irish to close the gap.

Fourth quarter every player on the court emotions were running high, the game pace changed and moved at a faster pace.

The bulldogs were up with under a minute to go, the players were trying to keep Notre Dame in front of them and seal the deal.

Ogunbowale had a different plan for the bulldogs. It was the final moment of the game, Ogunbowale gets the ball with three seconds left on the clock and pulls up to shoot. She makes yet another game-winning shot for Notre Dame but this time to break their drought and claim the National Title.

The game final 61-58. The fighting Irish has not won a title since 2001.

Arika Ogunbowale thought her life was complete when Kobe Bryant tweeted her after the semifinals but now she can safely say her life is complete.

Kobe acknowledges Ogunbowale mamba mentality