NC State
27-6,13-5ACC
#14/14 Notre Dame
26-6,13-5ACC
Wolfpack Women’s Basketball Falls to Notre Dame in ACC Tournament Championship Game
3/10/2024 3:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Tenth-ranked NC State women's basketball came up short to 14th-ranked Notre Dame in Sunday afternoon's ACC Tournament championship game, falling to the Fighting Irish by a 55-51 score in what was the Pack's fourth title game appearance in the last five years.
Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers were named to the All-Tournament First Team, and River Baldwin was honored on the All-Tournament Second Team.
Baldwin (14 points) and James (12 points) scored in double figures for NC State, with Madison Hayes and Zoe Brooks each adding eight points apiece.
NC State led by two (43-41) headed into the fourth but got outscored 14-8 in the final 10 minutes of the game. Despite nearly identical shooting percentages from both teams, Notre Dame shot 8-of-17 from distance.
The teams remained within a possession of each other for most of the first half, with a three by Notre Dame right before the halftime buzzer giving the Fighting Irish the largest lead held by either team (28-22) in the opening 20 minutes.
Notre Dame pushed its lead to seven points early in the third quarter, but the Wolfpack went on a 9-2 run to tie things back up at 35. NC State ended up outscoring Fighting Irish 21-13 in the third quarter, held them to just one field goal in the final four minutes of the period and led by two (43-41) headed into the fourth.
After a back-and-forth start to the final quarter, Notre Dame scored eight unanswered and hit both of its fourth-period threes in that stretch to go up for good. NC State managed to tie it back up at 51, but Notre Dame answered on the other end and the Wolfpack was unable to capitalize on late opportunities to even up the score again.
The Pack will return to action in two weeks to begin play in the 2024 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament. The Selection Sunday show is set for Sunday, March 17 at 8 p.m on ESPN at which time NC State will officially find out its postseason path and its status on hosting the first two rounds of tournament play.
The Pack will return to action in two weeks to begin play in the 2024 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament. The Selection Sunday show is set for Sunday, March 17 at 8 p.m on ESPN at which time NC State will officially find out its postseason path and its status on hosting the first two rounds of tournament play.
