No. 16 Notre Dame vs No. 6 NC State | ACC | 2.15.24

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - February 15th, 2024
Sixth-ranked NC State women's basketball (22-3, 10-3 ACC) made a statement on the road with a lockdown defensive effort against 16th-ranked Notre Dame (18-6, 8-5 ACC), beating the Fighting Irish 59-43 on their home floor.
The victory was the Pack's sixth over a ranked opponent this year and its first true road win over an AP Top 25 team since beating No. 10 Iowa on Dec. 1, 2022.
NC State's defense was on full display in the win, as Notre Dame's 43 points marked its fewest scored in a home game since January 2004. It tied as the fewest points that the Wolfpack has given up to any ranked opponent in its 50-season history. The Pack also limited the Fighting Irish to a season-low shooting percentage (.269).
Madison Hayes (16 points), River Baldwin (14 points), Aziaha James (11 points) and Saniya Rivers (10 points) all scored in double figures, with Baldwin and Rivers each adding 10 rebounds to round out their double-doubles.
The Wolfpack got off to a hot start and never looked back en route to the 16-point victory. NC State hit six of its first eight shots and went up 16-2 while holding Notre Dame scoreless for over six and a half minutes of first-quarter action. The Pack limited the Fighting Irish to 3-of-12 shooting in the opening period and forced them into nine turnovers in that 10-minute span.
The Pack built up a lead of as many as 17 points (30-13,, 2:55) in the second quarter and held onto a 12-point advantage (30-18) despite Notre Dame scoring the final five of the half. The Fighting Irish's 18 first-half points marked their season low in that category and the fewest NC State has given up in a first half in ACC action this year.
Notre Dame carried its run into the second half by scoring the first bucket to make it 30-20, but NC State responded with an 8-0 run that gave the team what was its largest lead at the time (38-20) midway through the third quarter. The Fighting Irish did not manage to draw closer than 13 points in the final 15 minutes of the game.
NC State returns home for a Sunday matinee against Georgia Tech, with that game set to tip off at noon on the CW. Tickets for the contest against the Yellow Jackets are sold out but available for resale on SeatGeek.

[@rustynail1071]

Make Hannah Hidalgo go left was the plan. Great defense by NC State, Notre Dame Coach Ivey made no adjustments.

[@rossrreyes]

40 POINTS!?!?
Iowa just dumped 109 points on Michigan. ND has issues.

[@90sHilly]

Michigan sucks like 98.9% of the rest of the big 10, nc state is going to the sweet 16 can you honestly say the same for Michigan at this point in the season?

[@anthonyjeter4643]

Great clap back!!!! I have been saying the big 10 is HORRIBLE!!!! They only have one team in that conference being Ohio State and then Caitlyn Clark (I did not mention Iowa as a team, because they are not)@@90sHilly

[@90sHilly]

@@anthonyjeter4643 yea a lot of people will be awaken come tournament time, the big ten is literally the weakest conference by far. I don’t expect Iowa to go deep this year at all they’ve been struggling against bums.