SOUTH BEND, Ind. - An unprecedented season for Notre Dame and coach Muffet McGraw has led the Fighting Irish to a familiar place.
Jewell Loyd scored 30 points and the unbeaten Irish beat Baylor 88-69 on Monday night in front of a raucous home crowd to earn their fourth straight trip to the Final Four.
"I couldn't be prouder of this team," said McGraw, who is in her 27th season at Notre Dame. "This senior class came in unheralded and set all kind of records. To win it at home, to celebrate with our fans is special. Jewell Loyd, what a phenomenal game."
Natalie Achonwa added 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Irish (36-0), who will bring a perfect record into the Final Four for the first time, facing either Louisville or Maryland on Sunday night in Nashville.
The Irish did get a scare Monday when Achonwa hurt her left knee with just under five minutes left. McGraw said her senior center would have an MRI today.
"It sucked the air right out of the room," McGraw said. "I don't know what it is yet. ... You hate to see a player go down like that."
It's the fourth straight season the Irish are in the national semifinals. Notre Dame became the sixth school to reach the Final Four in four straight seasons, joining UConn, LSU, Stanford, Louisiana Tech and Tennessee.
The loss ended the brilliant career of Baylor guard Odyssey Sims, who finished this season with 1,054 points - eight short of Jackie Stiles' NCAA record for a single season. Sims scored 33 points for Baylor (32-5), but had little help on offense. Her teammates were a combined 12-for-45 with no one else scoring in double digits.