LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For the first time since 2019, Notre Dame is your 2023 ACC regular season champion.
On Sunday, the 10th-ranked Irish (24-4, 15-3) topped Louisville (21-10, 12-6) on the road, 68-65. It was the first time they have won at KFC Yum! Center since 2016.
In earning the victory, Notre Dame sits alone atop the ACC standings at the conclusion of the regular season and will be the conference’s No. 1 seed at this week’s 2023 Ally ACC Tournament.
This was Notre Dame’s second time seeing the Cardinals this season, and it was also the second time they had to play from behind. The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair. Neither team had a lead greater than 4 points, and the largest run was 5-0. Notre Dame had the edge, 15-14.
Louisville dominated the second quarter, taking a 9-point lead into the locker room. Sonia Citron paced the team with 10 points and made a pair of shots from deep. The Cardinals had a 9-point lead after two quarters. At the 2:35 mark, star guard Olivia Miles went down with a knee injury after diving for a loose ball. She did not return and will be evaluated this week.
“I feel like our team did a great job responding when Liv went down,” said Niele Ivey, Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach.
Notre Dame played a solid third quarter, shooting 60 percent from the floor. The Irish cut Louisville’s lead to just a triple for the final frame. Notre Dame tied and took the lead in the late fourth quarter, and a couple of free throws from Cassandre Prosper sealed the deal.
“Super proud of the group for winning on the road in a defensive, physical game,” Ivey added. “It’s a testament to where this program is trending and to this team. Every person who has been a part of this team had a part in this win.”
Citron built upon her excellent first half, finishing with a season-high 27 points. That is also the most points any player has scored for Notre Dame this year. Citron was 7-13 from the floor and hit three triples.
“My coaches prepared me for when Liv needs a break, so I was ready when she went down,” Citron said. “I think our team did a great job of looking at it like ‘Get a stop and score. That’s it.’ We had been in that position before, and we knew what we had to do.”
Maddy Westbeld added 9 points to her total, making her career mark 999. Freshman KK Bransford had another double-digit performance, posting 14 points in front of numerous friends and family. Bransford is from nearby Cincinnati.
Notre Dame has a break until Friday, when the Irish will begin the postseason by playing the winner of Thursday’s game between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds. The full bracket will be released Sunday evening. That contest will tip off from Greensboro at 2 p.m. ET and will be televised on the ACC Network.