Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Remains Undefeated in ACC with Win Over SMU
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish continued their dominant season with an 88-64 victory over the SMU Mustangs on Sunday. Ranked No. 3, Notre Dame improved to 16-2 overall and 7-0 in ACC play, marking their best conference start since the 2015-16 season.
“This group plays with grit, edge, and toughness,” said Head Coach Niele Ivey. “Their defensive activity and ability to impose their will were key tonight.”
Notre Dame capitalized on their size advantage, scoring 50 points in the paint and grabbing 17 offensive rebounds. The team reduced turnovers to 12, a marked improvement from the 21 they committed against Georgia Tech in their previous game.
The Irish began the game slowly, trailing 8-5 early, but Hannah Hidalgo’s energy off the bench sparked a 10-2 run to close the first quarter. Hidalgo, returning from an ankle injury, contributed a steal and layup. Olivia Miles also made an impact, scoring 7 points and grabbing 4 rebounds in the first quarter before briefly leaving with an ankle issue. She returned in the second quarter and quickly added a three-pointer.
Notre Dame extended their lead with a dominant 20-3 run spanning the first and second quarters, reaching a 19-point advantage in the second frame. SMU managed to cut the deficit to 13 at halftime, but the Irish regained control with an 8-0 run to start the second half.
Miles secured the 25th double-double of her career, finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Hidalgo also recorded a double-double, leading all scorers with 23 points, along with 10 rebounds and 5 steals. Cassandre Prosper dominated the boards, collecting 4 offensive rebounds in the third quarter.
In total, four Notre Dame players scored in double figures, including Sonia Citron (11 points, 3 blocks) and Liatu King (10 points). The team shot 20-25 from the free throw line, with both Miles and Hidalgo going a perfect 5-5.
Notre Dame will embark on a three-game road trip, starting with Boston College on January 23, followed by matchups against Virginia Tech (January 30) and Louisville (February 2).
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