EASTON, Pa. — The sixth-ranked Notre Dame team demonstrated their strength, overcoming a series of injuries to defeat Lafayette decisively, 91-55, on Sunday. Despite only having seven players available for the matchup, the Fighting Irish showcased their shooting ability by setting a school record with 15 made 3-pointers in the game.
Hannah Hidalgo was a standout performer, scoring an impressive 29 points and shooting 9-for-14 from the field, including five 3-pointers out of six attempts. Hidalgo also made significant contributions with five steals and five assists throughout the contest.
Olivia Miles, hailing from just five miles away from Lafayette, recorded a noteworthy double-double, adding 20 points along with 11 rebounds and seven assists to help her team. Freshman Kate Kowal also posted a double-double, contributing 11 points and an impressive 19 rebounds. Kowal further distinguished herself by blocking seven shots, ranking her third nationally in blocked shots, while also providing four assists.
Emma Risch was another key player for Notre Dame, hitting four 3-pointers for a total of 12 points, while Sonia Citron contributed 10 points along with nine rebounds.
For Lafayette (1-3), junior Kay Donahue led the scoring with a career-high of 18 points, and Sauda Ntaconayigize supported with 17 points of her own.
In terms of team performance, there are concerns for Notre Dame regarding team depth as they move into a challenging segment of their schedule. Conversely, Lafayette managed to tie their season high for points against a formidable Notre Dame defense.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Kowal executed a block and, while falling out of bounds, managed to pass the ball to Miles. Miles skillfully maneuvered past two defenders, raced down the court, and executed a remarkable no-look pass to Hidalgo in the lane for a fast-break basket during the third quarter.
Looking ahead, Notre Dame will travel to Los Angeles on Saturday to face USC, featuring a matchup between two First-Team AP All-Americans, Hidalgo and USC’s JuJu Watkins. On the other hand, Lafayette is set to play against No. 15 West Virginia this Friday.