Cal Women's Basketball Falls to Notre Dame, NCAA Tournament Awaits

In a tightly contested matchup, Cal's women's basketball team fell 73-64 to sixth-ranked Notre Dame in the ACC tournament quarterfinals but secured a spot in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, marking their first appearance since 2019. Despite committing 27 turnovers, the Bears led at times, including a six-point advantage midway through the third quarter before Notre Dame's late run sealed the game. Lulu Twidale led Cal with 16 points, while Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo dominated with 25 points. The Bears are projected to be a No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament following their performance, which included victories over two ranked teams this season. Cal's strong showing in the ACC tournament, particularly against the defending champions, was a positive note despite the loss. The Fighting Irish will advance to the semifinals, continuing their pursuit of a high seed in the NCAA tournament.