(Durham, NC) — Whether it’s 2026, a road trip or the lack of healthy bodies — perhaps all of the above — something is amiss with Notre Dame’s women’s basketball program.

Niele Ivey’s 18th-ranked Fighting Irish dropped their second consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference road contest, with an 82-68 loss to Duke Sunday afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The loss drops Notre Dame to 10-4 (2-2 in ACC) and almost certainly will see the Irish drop out of the top 25 next week.

Meanwhile, Duke wins its sixth straight to move to 9-6 overall, but 4-0 in league play.

The Blue Devils took command, draining three three-pointers during a 13-0 run in the first quarter, grabbing a 26-17 lead.  Taina Mair had two threes in the stanza, finishing 4-4 from beyond the arc for a game-high 23 points.

Notre Dame closed to within six early in the third quarter when All-American Hannah Hidaldgo poured in three of her team-high 22 to make it 43-37.  The Blue Devils responded with a 13-2 spurt, keyed by Toby Fournier, who finished with 20 points. Duke is now 8-0 when Fournier scores 18 or more.

Duke was the more aggressive and physical team throughout, and it showed as they outrebounded Notre Dame, 39-31, and also took ten more free throws than the Irish.

Notre Dame again played only six players, with KK Bransford and Leah Macy in street clothes, still nursing leg injuries. No timetable has been given for either player’s return. The Irish return to action Thursday night at Purcell Pavilion, facing Boston College in a 6 pm tipoff.