Notre Dame Women Secure ACC Share with Win Over Louisville
In South Bend, Indiana, Notre Dame’s women’s basketball team achieved a significant victory on Sunday, defeating No. 25 Louisville 72-59. This triumph allowed the third-ranked Fighting Irish to rebound from recent setbacks and secure a portion of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular-season title. Freshman star Hannah Hidalgo led the way for Notre Dame with a standout performance, contributing 20 points.
Since joining the ACC in the 2013-2014 season, Notre Dame has claimed or shared the conference title eight times. This season, they share the accolade with N.C. State, who recorded a dominating win over SMU earlier on Sunday. Presently, Notre Dame stands with an impressive 25-4 overall and a 16-2 record in ACC play.
Adding to the victory, Olivia Miles contributed 15 points, helping the Fighting Irish recover from recent defeats to No. 9 N.C. State and No. 24 Florida State. For Louisville, who now holds a 20-9 overall record with a 13-5 positioning in the ACC, Jayda Curry was a leading force, scoring 19 points.
The contest highlighted potential tournament implications for both teams. For Notre Dame, strong tournament performance might be necessary to secure a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Louisville, winning five of their last seven games,—including all but narrow losses to top-ranked teams Notre Dame and North Carolina—hopes to maintain positive momentum as they advance into both conference and national tournaments.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Olivia Miles nailed an off-the-balance three-point shot from the sideline as the third quarter ended. This shot extended Notre Dame’s lead to 58-40, sparking a celebration with Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman, who was present courtside.
In terms of statistics, Notre Dame garnered a 21-15 advantage in second-chance points, though Louisville managed to capture more offensive rebounds, tallying 20 compared to Notre Dame’s 13. Both teams now look forward to showcasing their skills in the ACC Tournament, aiming to enhance their tournament resumes.
