Notre Dame Women's Basketball Falls Short Against Duke in ACC Semifinals

In a tightly contested semifinal match of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) tournament, the fifth-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish narrowly lost to the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils, 65-63, on March 7, 2026, at Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia. This defeat marks the second consecutive year that Duke has eliminated Notre Dame from the tournament. The Irish, who had a seven-game winning streak prior to this match, ended their season with a record of 22-10.

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Hannah Hidalgo, the standout junior point guard for Notre Dame, led all scorers with 24 points, alongside eight rebounds and four steals. This performance solidified her position as one of the top players in the ACC, as she has been recognized as both the ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Despite her efforts, the Irish struggled with shooting accuracy, finishing the game with a field goal percentage of 38% and hitting only 33% of their three-point attempts.

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The game began poorly for Notre Dame, as they fell behind 15-2 early on. However, they rallied to take a 49-46 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. The final moments were frantic, with Notre Dame having multiple opportunities to either tie or win the game. After Hidalgo's three-pointer cut Duke's lead to 64-63, the Irish failed to convert on their last three possessions, including a blocked shot by Duke's Toby Fournier on Iyana Moore's final attempt.

Irish Come Up Just Short In ACC Semifinals To Duke

Head coach Niele Ivey expressed pride in her team's resilience and hard work throughout the season, stating, “This team is one of the hardest-working teams I’ve ever coached. They fought. We had a lot going against us.” She emphasized that the loss does not define the team's capabilities and that they will use this experience to grow stronger moving forward.

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Despite the commendable effort, the Irish faced criticism for their inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the final moments of the game. The team's shooting struggles, particularly in high-pressure situations, were highlighted as a critical factor in their defeat. Additionally, the rebounding battle was heavily dominated by Duke, who out-rebounded Notre Dame 47-32.

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Looking ahead, Notre Dame's future hinges on their performance in the upcoming NCAA tournament, with Selection Sunday set for March 15, 2026. The Irish are projected to enter the tournament as a 5 or 6 seed, which would require them to face formidable opponents in the early rounds. Coach Ivey and her staff are focused on strengthening the roster for the 2027 season, with plans to enhance their recruiting efforts and potentially add players from the transfer portal.

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• “I talked to everybody about how much joy I have in coaching this group, so I told them, don’t hang your heads on this. It does not define us. It’s only going to make us better and stronger.” — Niele Ivey, Head Coach

In the ACC Tourney aftermath, it’s time to make a promise to Hannah Hidalgo — and keep it

• “So, it would be very hypocritical of me to say I trust my teammates and then not kick it to them when they’re open. I trusted that I drove and I drew Cass’s defender, that she was going to knock down that shot. And I would do it again.” — Hannah Hidalgo, Junior Guard

In the ACC Tourney aftermath, it’s time to make a promise to Hannah Hidalgo — and keep it

This loss serves as a pivotal moment for the Fighting Irish as they prepare for the challenges ahead in the NCAA tournament and beyond.

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