Duke Edges Notre Dame in ACC Tournament Semifinal

Blue Devils advance to championship game after narrow victory over Fighting Irish

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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In a closely contested semifinal matchup at the ACC tournament, No. 13 Duke edged out Notre Dame 65-63 to advance to the championship game. Taina Mair led the Blue Devils with 16 points, while Toby Fournier and Riley Nelson also scored in double figures. Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo had a game-high 24 points, but the Fighting Irish couldn't complete the comeback after trailing by 13 points earlier in the game.

Why it matters

The ACC tournament is a highly competitive event that showcases some of the top women's basketball programs in the country. Duke's narrow victory over Notre Dame demonstrates the parity and intensity of the tournament, as the Blue Devils had to hold off a late surge from the Fighting Irish to secure their spot in the championship game.

The details

Duke led Notre Dame 49-46 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Fighting Irish rallied to take a late lead. However, the Blue Devils were able to make key defensive stops down the stretch, including holding Notre Dame scoreless in the final minute, to eke out the 65-63 win. Taina Mair led Duke with 16 points, while Toby Fournier and Riley Nelson also scored in double figures for the Blue Devils.

  • The semifinal matchup took place on Saturday, March 8, 2026 in Duluth, Georgia.

The players

Taina Mair

A key player for Duke, scoring 16 points in the semifinal victory.

Toby Fournier

Scored 14 points for Duke in the semifinal game.

Riley Nelson

Contributed 10 points for the Blue Devils in the win over Notre Dame.

Hannah Hidalgo

Notre Dame's leading scorer with 24 points in the semifinal loss.

Iyana Moore

Scored 14 points for Notre Dame in the semifinal matchup.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This closely contested semifinal matchup between Duke and Notre Dame showcases the high level of competition in the ACC tournament, as the Blue Devils had to hold off a late surge from the Fighting Irish to secure their spot in the championship game.