NOTRE DAME — On St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the Notre Dame women’s basketball team will begin its march toward an NCAA national championship on its home court Friday.

The Fighting Irish (23-3) are a No. 1 seed for the seventh consecutive season. Notre Dame is 30-6 all-time as a top seed in the NCAA tournament.

Four of those six losses have come against No. 1 seeds.

Cal State Northridge (19-15) and the Fighting Irish, who have won 12 consecutive NCAA tournament games at Purcell Pavilion, are meeting for the first time ever.

The Matadors comes into the tournament having won the Big West Tournament with a 63-55 win over No. 1-seeded UC Davis.

According to Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw, Northridge has a powerful front line, which is led by Big West Conference Player of the Year Channon Fluker, who led the conference in rebounding (12.1), blocked shots (2.7) and double-doubles (21). She also led the league in made free throws with 158 and was third in scoring with an average of 18.6.

Tessa Boagni was the tournament MVP. The 6-foot-2 post player from New Zeeland averaged 19.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game during the tournament.

“Their post play is phenomenal,” McGraw said. “They really like to throw the ball inside. Fluker is the best player in the conference. She is somebody who can really change the game at both ends of the floor. Boagni really does a nice job of complimenting her and can score as well.”

Notre Dame and Cal State Northridge will open up the first round at 5 p.m.

Villanova and South Dakota State will play in the second game of the doubleheader at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The game can be seen on ESPN2.