Erica McCall’s block sends Stanford women back to Final Four

The Comeback Cardinal still needed a last-second block by Erica McCall on Notre Dame guard Arike Ogunbowale to preserve a 76-75 win in the Lexington Regional final Sunday and earn their 13th berth in the Final Four.

[...] when the 5-foot-8 sophomore received an inbounds pass from Lindsay Allen with 2.3 seconds left, she passed up a 12-foot shot and came off a screen to drive to the basket.

According to Ogunbowale, McCall (who’s 6-3) “came out of nowhere” to block the shot.

[...] she got a clean block, and second-seeded Stanford had upended Notre Dame, the top seed, in the Lexington Regional for the second straight year.

Last year’s game came in the regional semifinals, and the Cardinal lost to Washington in the final.

What Kentucky Derby winner starts out and goes pole to pole?

Brittany McPhee scored a game-high 27 points and played tight defense on Ogunbowale in the second half.

McPhee scored nine points in the fourth quarter, including a clutch shot off the glass for a 72-71 lead with 1:43 left.

Alanna Smith (15 points) had two baskets in the final minute, including the decisive one with 23 seconds left on a lob pass from Marta Sniezek.

Ogunbowale, the Most Outstanding Player of the regional, and Allen (10 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) were also honored.