DENVER (AP) - Brittney Griner scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds as Baylor jumped out to a 34-28 halftime lead over Notre Dame in the women’s national championship game Tuesday night.
The Lady Bears moved 20 minutes closer to the first 40-win season in NCAA history. Even more important, they’re attempting cut down the nets for the first time since 2005.
For the Fighting Irish, this is their second straight trip to the title game. They lost 76-70 to Texas A&M after leading at halftime last year.
The 6-foot-8 Griner got off to a slow start as Notre Dame blanketed her with as many three defenders. But the AP player of the year gradually picked up steam, helping the Bears build a lead that stretched to as many as 14 points.
The Irish used a late 13-4 run to claw back into the game.
Notre Dame was led in the first half by All-American Skylar Diggins, who had nine points.
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