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
Irish Take Win Streak Into ACC Semis Versus Duke DULUTH, Ga. — The No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, riding a seven-game winning streak, will face No. 1 Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 7, with a chance to advance to the title game. The matchup, set for noon ET at the Gas South Arena in Duluth, Ga., will be broadcast on ESPN2 with Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli calling the action. Notre Dame secured its place in the semifinals by defeating NC State in the quarterfinals on Friday, 81-63. The Irish dominated the Wolfpack, with Hannah Hidalgo and Iyana Moore combining for 45 points. Moore added nine rebounds, tying her career-high in rebounds, while Hidalgo recorded her sixth consecutive game with 25 or more points, the most among ACC players this century. The junior forward also matched her career high with 20 points in the tournament game, marking her sixth ACC Tournament contest with double-digit scoring, tied for the most by any player in the league’s history. Moore’s performance was highlighted by her four three-pointers against NC State, her 10th game this season with four or more three-pointers. Cassandre Prosper, named ACC’s Most Improved Player, contributed 13 points in the win, extending her streak of 24 games with 10 or more points. Notre Dame’s victory over NC State also marked its fourth consecutive win against the Wolfpack in the ACC Tournament, maintaining a perfect 4-0 record in such matchups. The Irish’s matchup against Duke carries historical significance, as Notre Dame is 19-6 all-time against the Blue Devils, including a 4-1 record in ACC Tournament play. The teams have met in the tournament before, with Notre Dame’s recent success adding momentum to its pursuit of the title.#acc_tournament #notre_dame_fighting_irish #duke_blue_devils #gas_south_arena #hannah_hidalgo
