Jewell Loyd celebrates with her Irish teammates Monday night. The No. 2 and undefeated Irish beat Baylor to advance to the Final Four.

SOUTH BEND – Jewell Loyd lived up to her name Monday night.

The Irish super sophomore delivered one gem of a performance to lead her team back to the Final Four.

The explosive guard poured in 30 points in an electrifying effort as the undefeated Irish topped Baylor 88-69 in the regional final of the NCAA Tournament.

Senior Natalie Achonwa had 19 points and 15 rebounds before leaving the game with a knee injury with 4:51 to play for the Irish. Senior Kayla McBride had 11 points and classmate Ariel Braker 10 for the top-seeded and No. 2 ranked Irish.

Notre Dame (36-0) advances to play the winner of Tuesday night’s Maryland-Louisville game on Sunday night in a semifinal matchup in Nashville. The other semifinal will pit No. 1 and undefeated UConn versus either Stanford or North Carolina (who also play Tuesday night).

The national title game is set for April 8.

The Irish become just the sixth team in women’s basketball history to advance to four straight Final Fours. They join UConn, Tennessee, Stanford, LSU and Lousiana Tech.

Baylor star Odyssey Sims closed out a brilliant career with 33 points to pace her team. The No. 2 seed and fifth-ranked Bears, who beat Notre Dame in the 2012 national championship game to cap a 40-0 season, finish the year at 32-5.

Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw has a word for Natalie Achonwa.

The Irish turned in an elite effort in front of a raucous sold-out crowd of 8,774 in their home Purcell Pavilion.  Notre Dame has now won 28 straight at home.

Notre Dame, whose last home loss was a 73-61 decision to Baylor back in December of 2012, also collected its first win in five meetings versus the Bears.  Baylor had won all four of the previous contest by double figures.

The Irish outscored the Bears 46-28 in the paint thanks to its veteran lineup outplaying the youthful Baylor frontline big time. The hosts also hit 30-33 free throws in the win, while Baylor was just 15-18 from the stripe.

But this night belonged to Loyd.

The 5-10 star delivered time and time again for the Irish.

“What a phenomenal game by Jewell,” said Irish coach Muffet McGraw. “We needed every single thing we got from her tonight. She delivered on every possession for us.

“We had two outstanding offensive performances from Jewell and Natalie. What an amazing group this is. This senior class has been amazing.

“To get to win here and celebrate with our fans is a great thing. We could not have done this without them.”

Sophomore Jewell Loyd led the undefeated Irish with 30 points.

Loyd, Notre Dame’s top scorer at 18.5 points-per-game,  had an answer every time the Bears got close. She ignited a 14-0 first-half run with a stretch of eight straight points that gave her team the lead for good. Loyd had 21 points in the opening half as the Irish led 44-32 at intermission.

Achonwa, who has played brilliant in the tourney, had her eight double-double by halftime with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

When Baylor rallied within 48-44 early in the final half, Loyd sparked a 9-4 run with a 3-pointer. The Bears then got within 65-60 with 7:34 left before Loyd keyed a 10-2 run that put the Irish in command for good.

“I was just trying to get us going and provide energy,” said Loyd, who was named the regional’s Most Outstanding Player. “I just took what the defense gave me. We were definitely playing for the seniors and our coaches tonight.”

McBride had confidence in her teammates despite having to watch much of the game from the bench due to foul trouble. The star guard, who was the ACC Player of the Year, sat the final 16:08 of the opening half after getting two quick fouls. She only played a total of 18 minutes.

“I expect that of them,” said McBride of the efforts of Loyd and Achonwa. “We have so many great players on this team. I was not worried at all about it.”

The Irish huddle during a break in the action Monday night.

Baylor coach Kim Mulkey praised the play of Loyd.

“Tonight her offense was special,” said Mulkey of Loyd. “She hit big shots for them.

“The paint was the difference in the game. I thought that it would be and it was. We missed so many layups. I’m not sure if it was nerves or what.

“The rebounding the paint put us in a hole. My kids battled and gave it everything they had. Odyssey is just a competitor. Basketball is important and means something to her.”

Mulkey, who received a second-half technical foul from a very shaky officiating crew, would not bite when asked about playing on Notre Dame’s home court or the work of the officials.

“Next question,” said Mulkey tersely in response to the query in the post game press conference.

McGraw said the work of her post players made a huge impact on the win, which set a single-season record for the Irish.

“We wanted to look inside for Natalie,” said McGraw. “Getting to the free throw line was a big key for us. We wanted to drive the ball and we did a good job of that.”

Sims, who entered the game second in the country in scoring at 28 ppg., shot 12-26 from the field. She did also have six assists, but nine turnovers. Sims, who scored 1,054 points this season to finish just eight shy of the NCAA single-season record set by Jackie Stiles, was the lone Baylor player to score in double figures.

Jewell Loyd was brilliant in leading the Irish past Baylor Monday night.

Loyd went 12-27 from the field and also had five rebounds. Notre Dame finished 28-66 from the field, while Baylor was just 24-71.

Achonwa, a 6-3 forward, hurt her left knee while fouled hard on a drive to the hoop with 4:51 to play in the game. Achonwa, the top rebounder and third-leading scorer for the Irish, is scheduled to have an MRI on the knee Tuesday.

The Irish earn a berth back in the Final Four for the sixth time in program history and the first in the last four years without superstar Skylar Diggins, the program’s all-time leading scorer. The former South Bend Washington star and current member of the Tulsa Shock of the WNBA, was seated right behind the Irish bench Monday night.

“This means so much to our program,” said McGraw. “I think this makes a statement for our program. With Skylar gone, no one expected us to get back to the Final Four. This senior class came in unheralded and has set all kinds of records. We’ve gotten great leadership from our seniors and great balance and teamwork.”

A great night by a stellar sophomore Monday night didn’t hurt the cause either.

Notre Dame senior star Kayla McBride is all smiles with the regional championship trophy.