Notre Dame women's basketball claims No. 1 ranking

Notre Dame's women's basketball team has reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press poll after a strong performance against Duke, winning 64-49. The Irish, now 23-2 overall and 14-0 in conference play, faced a challenging first half but surged in the second, highlighted by a 17-1 run in the third quarter. Hannah Hidalgo led the team with 19 points, while Sonia Citron contributed 15, maintaining perfect free-throw shooting as a duo. This ranking comes on the heels of South Carolina's significant loss to UConn, allowing Notre Dame to ascend to the top spot for the first time since 2019. As the season progresses, Hidalgo emphasizes the team's focus on not just reaching the Final Four, but winning the national championship, a title they last secured in 2018. With Selection Sunday approaching, the Irish aim to solidify their standing as they prepare for postseason play.