No. 6 Notre Dame Draws No. 2 Vanderbilt For Sweet 16 FORT WORTH, Texas — For the fifth consecutive season, Notre Dame is in the Sweet 16. The sixth-seeded Irish will face No. 2 Vanderbilt (29-4) on Friday, March 27, in a matchup that could determine their path to the Elite Eight. The game will take place at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, with coverage provided by the Notre Dame Radio Network. Tiffany Greene, Carolyn Peck, and Angel Gray will call the action from the venue. Notre Dame’s journey to the Sweet 16 included a 83-73 victory over third-seeded Ohio State in Columbus. The Irish showcased a balanced offensive attack, with five players scoring in double figures. Senior forward Hidalgo led the team with 26 points, 13 rebounds, eight steals, and two assists. Her performance marked her as the second women’s player in NCAA history to record 8+ steals in two tournament games. Hidalgo also surpassed Arike Ogunbowale’s single-season scoring record, reaching 856 points this season. Vanessa de Jesus contributed 15 points in her first double-figure outing of the NCAA Tournament, while Cassandre Prosper and Iyana Moore each added 13 points. KK Bransford provided a spark off the bench, scoring 10 points in 21 minutes. The Irish’s success in the tournament has positioned them among three programs nationally to reach the Sweet 16 in five consecutive years, joining UConn and South Carolina. The Irish’s history against Vanderbilt adds intrigue to the matchup. Notre Dame holds a 4-1 all-time record against the Commodores, with their most recent meeting in the 2001 NCAA Regional Final, a game that featured current head coach Niele Ivey. This year’s contest will test Notre Dame’s ability to maintain their momentum against a top-tier opponent. The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 27.#notre_dame #vanderbilt #dickies_arena #hidalgo #nielle_ivey
