Hidalgo propels No. 6 Notre Dame past third-ranked USC and JuJu Watkins with a 74-61 victory in significant Western clash.

Hannah Hidalgo led the way for the No. 6 ranked Notre Dame, scoring 24 points to help the team secure a 74-61 victory against No. 3 Southern California, featuring standout JuJu Watkins, in a highly anticipated contest held on Saturday in Los Angeles.

The Trojans struggled to keep pace, falling behind early and trailing by as much as 21 points in the fourth quarter. JuJu Watkins managed to contribute 24 points along with six rebounds and five assists for USC, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.

Hidalgo’s strong performance began right out of the gate, connecting on 5-of-8 shots in the first quarter and finishing with 16 points by halftime. She rounded out her game with six rebounds and eight assists. Her teammate, Olivia Miles, also made a significant impact, contributing 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists for the Fighting Irish, who improved to 5-0 this season.

Although Hidalgo shined throughout the game, the presence of Watkins was still felt. Her story was the subject of a documentary that aired on NBC prior to the game, adding to the excitement surrounding the matchup.

The atmosphere was electric with special appearances, including Snoop Dogg, who arrived wearing a USC-themed jacket that featured Watkins’ name and jersey number, and her sister Mali, who performed the national anthem, further enhancing the event’s profile.

In terms of key moments, Notre Dame quickly seized control, opening the game with a 20-10 advantage in the first quarter. They maintained their lead throughout, exhibiting composure even when the Trojans narrowed the gap to three points on various occasions.

USC was missing their starting guard Kennedy Smith, whose defensive skills might have made a difference against Hidalgo. It was revealed just before the game that she underwent a surgical procedure but is expected to return this season.

On the defensive side, Notre Dame was able to capitalize on USC’s mistakes, forcing the Trojans into committing 21 turnovers, which translated into 22 points for the Irish. In stark contrast, USC struggled from beyond the arc, making just 1 of 13 attempts from three-point range.

Looking ahead, Notre Dame is set to face TCU on November 29 in the Cayman Islands Classic, while Southern California will take on Seton Hall in the Women’s Acrisure Holiday Invitational on November 27 in Palm Desert, California.