Notre Dame Dominates Fairfield in NCAA Tournament Opener The Notre Dame Fighting Irish secured a decisive 79-60 victory over No. 11 seed Fairfield in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, advancing to a second-round matchup against No. 3 seed Ohio State. The game, played at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, showcased standout performances from key players, with junior guard Hannah Hidalgo leading the charge. Hidalgo broke the program record for steals in a single NCAA Tournament game with eight, while also contributing 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and five steals, flirting with a quadruple-double. The Irish built an early lead, outscoring Fairfield 17-12 in the first quarter. Hidalgo and Cassandre Prosper combined for eight of the first 10 points, with Hidalgo scoring seven alone in the opening frame. Notre Dame extended its advantage in the second half, pushing the lead to double digits by halftime. Despite Fairfield cutting the deficit to seven points at 29-22 with two minutes left in the half, the Irish responded with seven of the final nine points to take a 36-24 lead into the break. Hidalgo continued her dominance in the third quarter, scoring 13 points and adding seven rebounds, five steals, and five assists by halftime. The Irish took control of the game, outscoring Fairfield 11-2 in the third quarter to build a 21-point lead. Notre Dame led by as many as 23 points in the third and maintained a 19-point advantage heading into the final 10 minutes. The Stags managed only 17 points in the fourth quarter, allowing Notre Dame to cruise to the 79-60 victory. Notre Dame’s performance was highlighted by its dominance in the paint, outscoring Fairfield 44-22.#hannah_hidalgo #notre_dame_fighting_irish #schottenstein_center #cassandre_prosper #iyana_moore
