GREENSBORO, N.C. — On Saturday, Notre Dame (24-5) found out the hard way that it’s incredibly difficult to beat a team three times in a single season. The Irish fell 64-38 to Louisville (23-10), ending their stay at the 2023 ACC Tournament.
The first half was Notre Dame’s worst of the season. The Irish scored just 15 points. Louisville was the last team to hold them to that mark when they visited South Bend in February 2022. With the exception of Maddy Westbeld’s 5 points, no player had more than one bucket in the first two frames. Sonia Citron, who posted 28 points on Friday against NC State, was limited to 1-for-4 from the floor, missing a pair of triples. Cassandre Prosper went 0-for-6.
To start the third quarter, Notre Dame fell into its biggest hole of the year at 35-15. Louisville’s lead continued to grow and reached 30 with 8:05 to go. It maxed out at 34.
Westbeld led the Irish scoring with 9 points and went 4-for-12. She hit Notre Dame’s lone 3-pointer. Citron had 8 points. Prosper and Lauren Ebo each had 5 boards, and Citron and KK Bransford had 3 assists.
Louisville’s Hailey Van Lith struggled hitting buckets in the first half, but she ultimately ended up with 15. Four total Cardinals reached double-digits.
Notre Dame will now spend the week waiting to learn its fate for the NCAA Tournament. The Irish were a No. 3 seed in the latest release from the Division I women’s basketball selection committee. The group was a No. 5 seed last season and reached the Sweet 16.