WOMENS BASKETBALL
Duke 65, Notre Dame 63
ASSOCIATED PRESS
DULUTH, Ga. - Fifth-seeded Notre Dame had three shots in the final 11 seconds with the game on the line, but top-seeded Duke hung onto its lead and came out on top 65-63 in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball tournament on Saturday.
The Irish overcame a flat start and first-half deficit, taking their first lead of the game with just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Notre Dame was up 49-46 at the start of the fourth quarter, A back-and-forth battle would ensue, and it ultimately leaned in the Blue Devils’ favor.
Hope looked lost for Notre Dame after a 3-pointer by Taina Mair gave the Blue Devils a 64-60 lead with just over a minute remaining. Hannah Hidalgo restored the team's faith with a clutch steal turned into a 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to 64-63.
After Duke's Riley Nelson went 1-of-2 on the free-throw line, Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey called a final timeout with 51.6 seconds remaining to draw up what she hoped would be the game-winner, but the Irish fell short in the final seconds of a hard-fought battle.
Hidalgo led the Irish with 24 points and eight rebounds.
Mair had a team-high 16 points and added eight rebounds for Duke. Toby Fournier added 14 points and eight rebounds.
March 7, 2026
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