Notre Dame girls’s basketball dominates NC State in ACC Tournament

After No. 5 seed Notre Dame women’s basketball beat No. 4 seed North Carolina State 81-63 in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament quarterfinal Friday, March 6, grad pupil Iyana Moore gave head coach Niele Ivey maybe the most important public seal of approval for which a coach might ask. Especially from a participant who has been in this system for lower than a 12 months.

The Vanderbilt switch dropped 20 factors and grabbed a season-high 9 rebounds vs. the Wolfpack, however she was fast to credit score Ivey for main the Irish’s turnaround since Feb. 1, sparking a seven-game profitable streak that has introduced Notre Dame from 15-9 to 22-9 as one of many hottest groups within the sport.

“I really think there is no one like coach Ivey,” Moore mentioned. “It’s really about the people who make the program. It’s just so welcoming, and the people here just make you laugh. Coach Ivey cares about you more than just as a person.

“You just want to run through a brick wall for coach Ivey, and I think she makes this program 10 times better.”

More: Celebrate Lou Holtz’s Notre Dame legacy with our commemorative ebook

Ivey, who sat to Moore’s left with solely junior Hannah Hidalgo in between them, was almost choked up by Moore’s sentiment.

“You’re going to make me cry,” Ivey whispered throughout the desk.

That interplay was a microcosm of what this Notre Dame workforce has been as of late. One fiercely keen about each other, motivated by not solely the attract of victory however combating to play only one extra sport alongside one another.

One that has appeared to stability motivation with enjoyable since senior KK Bransford’s return to play Feb. 1 has seen the Irish win 9 of their final 10 video games. Even within the high-pressure eventualities, Notre Dame has used the stakes to play its most free-flowing basketball of the season.

“We’re present where our feet are,” Hidalgo mentioned. “… It’s enjoying the moments that we have right now with each other. Enjoying the win and then focusing on the next game.”

The Irish’s profitable streak has been bookended by victories vs. NC State (20-10, 13-5 ACC). It started with a 79-67 win in South Bend Feb. 15 and has been prolonged most lately with the victory in Duluth, Georgia, Friday.

Hidalgo didn’t fairly attain the edge in that first victory vs. the Wolfpack, however her 25 this time round marked her sixth straight sport with at the very least that many factors. She has scored 21 or extra factors in six of seven profession ACC Tournament video games as properly, rising to the event on the most important stage.

Hidalgo, who lately turned the primary in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) historical past to win back-to-back ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards, has put up a mixed 53 factors, 13 rebounds, 10 assists and 7 steals within the match to date.

“It’s just a mindset,” Hidalgo mentioned. “I’m a competitor; I want to win, and I want to do whatever it takes for my teammates and I to get to that next step.”

More: Celebrate Lou Holtz’s Notre Dame legacy with our commemorative part

Notre Dame led wire-to-wire towards NC State, even holding a 28-point benefit with 6:24 left within the fourth quarter. Hidalgo and Moore almost outscored the Wolfpack by themselves, however senior ACC Most Improved Player Cass Prosper additionally helped out with 13 factors.

All-ACC First Team choice Khamil Pierre led NC State with a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double, whereas fellow first workforce honoree Zoe Brooks was restricted to simply 14 factors on 38% taking pictures. The Irish’s win matches them up towards No. 1 seed Duke (22-8, 16-2 ACC) at Noon Saturday, March 7 on ESPN2 in a semifinal sport.

Notre Dame not solely misplaced to the Blue Devils 82-68 within the common season – albeit with out Bransford – however the Irish’s ACC Tournament run was ended by the eventual 2025 convention champs final season. If Notre Dame continues to method motivation light-heartedly, who’s to say it could actually’t advance to an ACC Tournament championship look with an upset over Duke?

More: Follow here for Notre Dame women’s basketball 2025-26 season coverage

“They were always focused and ready, but it just seemed like February is when things really clicked for us,” Ivey mentioned. “I’m not sure if it was any one thing they’ve done ― because this group comes to work every day ― but I think outside of that, the belief, the trust and the chemistry has really grown.”

Kyle Smedley is a sports activities reporter on the South Bend Tribune. Contact him by way of e mail at ksmedley@usatodayco.com or observe him on X @KyleMSmedley.