Top-Ranked Notre Dame Prepares for ACC Clash with NC State

RALEIGH, N.C. — No. 1 Notre Dame (24-2, 15-0) will take on No. 13 NC State (21-5, 13-2) this Sunday, February 23, at 12:00 p.m. during what is expected to be the toughest road game of the season for the Irish. The game, a rematch of last year’s ACC Championship, will be broadcast live on ESPN from Reynolds Coliseum.

A victory for Notre Dame would secure the ACC regular season title, marking the second time under Head Coach Niele Ivey that the Irish have achieved this feat, and the eighth in program history. Notre Dame enters the game on a high note, having recently defeated Miami by a staggering 82-42 margin, reflecting their dominance in the conference with seven wins of over 30 points this season.

Sonia Citron has been outstanding for the Irish, leading the team in scoring with 19 points against Miami and averaging 16.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game over the past five contests. Citron’s shooting has been impressive, with a 62.7 percent field goal percentage and 50 percent from beyond the arc. In addition, Hannah Hidalgo contributed significantly with 18 points and currently ranks second nationally in scoring with an average of 24.6 points per game this season.

Liatu King also made a substantial impact against Miami, recording a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, alongside matching her career-high with four assists. Meanwhile, NC State boasts a formidable backcourt with guards Aziaha James, Saniya Rivers, and Zoe Brooks, averaging 17.7, 12.2, and 13.5 points per game, respectively. James scored 17 points in a recent game against No. 20 Georgia Tech, including 15 in the first half, and she had a standout performance earlier this season with a career-high 36 points against Duke.

Both teams come into this matchup battle-tested, as four of NC State’s five losses this season have been to teams currently ranked in the AP Top 10, and they have significantly defeated three ranked opponents. Notre Dame holds a 10-5 all-time record against NC State and is 3-2 when playing in Raleigh.

The game will be a crucial test for both teams, and viewers can watch the coverage on ESPN, with Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, and Holly Rowe announcing. Additionally, ESPN’s College GameDay will be live from Reynolds Coliseum prior to the game.