Hannah Hidalgo 30 Points Lift Notre Dame Past No 10 Louisville 65-62 in ACC Thriller

LOUISVILLE — In a breaking update with major ACC Tournament implications, Hannah Hidalgo scored 30 points to lead Notre Dame to a 65-62 comeback victory over No. 10 Louisville on Sunday, closing the regular season with momentum.

The Fighting Irish improved to 20-9 overall and 12-6 in ACC play, winning their fifth straight game. Louisville fell to 25-6 and 15-3 in conference action, missing an opportunity to strengthen its case for a potential share of the regular season crown.

Hidalgo delivered an all around performance despite battling foul trouble. The All American guard finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals. She scored seven of Notre Dame’s final nine points and recorded a critical steal with 14 seconds remaining. Rather than attempt a fast break layup, she pulled the ball out to drain clock with Louisville holding fouls to give, a sequence that underscored late game awareness.

Louisville had a final chance to force overtime, but Imari Berry missed a 3 point attempt in the closing seconds. The Cardinals committed 19 turnovers, a decisive factor in a game defined by defensive pressure and possession swings.

Notre Dame built its first half advantage behind an explosive second quarter stretch. After a slow start, the Irish used an 18-3 run over a 3:06 span to seize control, with Hidalgo scoring 10 points during that surge. The run produced a 31-19 lead late in the half and shifted the tempo.

Louisville responded in the third quarter with a 10-2 run to trim the deficit to 47-45. Hidalgo answered with a banked 3 point shot at the buzzer to close the period. However, she picked up her fourth foul early in the fourth quarter on an offensive charge and briefly exited. During that stretch, Louisville tied the game at 52 and later took a 60-56 lead before Hidalgo returned with 4:40 remaining to anchor the decisive rally.

Vanessa de Jesus added 14 points for Notre Dame. Mackenly Randolph led Louisville with 15 points and 11 rebounds, but the Cardinals struggled to convert late opportunities.

From an impact standpoint, the victory strengthens Notre Dame’s postseason outlook entering the ACC Tournament and enhances its NCAA Tournament resumé. The Irish demonstrated late game execution and defensive resilience, key metrics often evaluated by the selection committee.

For Louisville, the loss highlights ball security concerns heading into tournament play. Despite a strong regular season that positioned the Cardinals among the league’s top programs, reducing turnovers will be essential in high leverage postseason matchups.

Next steps: Notre Dame begins ACC Tournament play Thursday in the second round. Louisville, as a top seed, opens tournament action Friday in the quarterfinals, with both programs seeking to convert regular season success into championship momentum.