Teams | 64 | ||||
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Finals site | Savvis Center St. Louis, Missouri | ||||
Champions | Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1st title, 1st title game, 2nd Final Four) | ||||
Runner-up | Purdue Boilermakers (2nd title game, 3rd Final Four) | ||||
Semifinalists |
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Winning coach | Muffet McGraw (1st title) | ||||
MOP | Ruth Riley (Notre Dame) | ||||
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The 2001 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 16 and ended on April 1. The tournament featured 64 teams. The Final Four, held at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri, consisted of Connecticut, Notre Dame, Purdue, and Southwest Missouri State (now known as Missouri State), with Notre Dame defeating Purdue 68–66 to win its first NCAA title.[1] Notre Dame's Ruth Riley was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.[2]