Irish Can’t Overcome Blue Devils In ACC Semis

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Irish Can’t Overcome Blue Devils In ACC Semis

GREENSBORO, N.C. — After a quarterfinal win over No. 7 Cal on Friday, No. 2 Notre Dame fell to third seed Duke in the ACC Tournament semis, 61-56.

Hannah Hidalgo led the Irish with 23 points and 6 steals. Both Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld had 4 steals themselves, and Citron added a pair of blocks in what was a defensive battle between two of the conference’s best at it.

The Irish forced 21 turnovers but couldn’t make enough shots down the stretch, shooting 37.5 percent from the floor on the day. They scored just 25 points in the second half, their lowest total in a half this season behind 29 points in the second half against Texas in December.

Notre Dame will head back to South Bend this week and await its seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Selection Sunday is March 16.

In a thrilling ACC Tournament semifinal on March 8, 2025, the Duke Blue Devils women’s basketball team edged out the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a 61-56 victory at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. This win propelled Duke to their first ACC championship game appearance since 2017.

Key Performances

  • Duke’s Standout Players: Sophomore guard Oluchi Okananwa led Duke with 14 points, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the field, including two 3-pointers, and a flawless 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. She also contributed seven rebounds and three assists. Ashlon Jackson added 12 points, with nine different Blue Devils scoring in the game.

  • Notre Dame’s Efforts: Hannah Hidalgo was the top scorer for Notre Dame, contributing significantly to the team’s offensive efforts.

Game Highlights

The game featured a tightly contested first half, with Notre Dame leading 31-29 at halftime. Duke’s defense intensified in the third quarter, holding the Fighting Irish to their lowest three-quarter point total of the season. A pivotal moment occurred when Okananwa’s 3-pointer pushed Duke’s lead to eight points in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame mounted a comeback, narrowing the gap to three points, but Duke’s Delaney Thomas and Ashlon Jackson made crucial plays to maintain the lead.

Coaching Perspectives

Duke’s head coach, Kara Lawson, praised the team’s resilience and strategic play, highlighting the significance of the victory as a milestone in the program’s progress under her leadership since 2020.

Looking Ahead

Duke’s triumph sets the stage for a championship clash against the top-seeded NC State Wolfpack. The Blue Devils aim to secure their first ACC title since 2013, building on the momentum from their semifinal victory.

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