Home Sports Hannah Hidalgo takes charge as No. 3 Notre Dame women triumph over SMU, 88-64

Hannah Hidalgo takes charge as No. 3 Notre Dame women triumph over SMU, 88-64

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Hannah Hidalgo takes charge as No. 3 Notre Dame women triumph over SMU, 88-64

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Hannah Hidalgo made a significant impact in her comeback from an ankle injury, scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, leading No. 3 Notre Dame to a commanding 88-64 victory against SMU on Sunday night.

In addition to Hidalgo’s impressive performance, she contributed with five steals and three assists, aiding the Fighting Irish in improving their record to 16-2 overall and 7-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Olivia Miles also had a notable game, finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.

Zanai Jones was the standout performer for SMU, leading her team with 20 points. The Mustangs struggled early on, as they managed to take a brief lead at 12-9 while Notre Dame missed nine of its first 11 attempts from the field. However, the Fighting Irish quickly found their rhythm, hitting 10 of their next 14 shots and establishing a solid 32-15 advantage midway through the second quarter.

In terms of key takeaways from the matchup, Notre Dame showcased its defensive prowess by forcing 20 turnovers, which led to a remarkable 24-7 disparity in fast-break points. On the other hand, SMU was outmatched on the boards, losing the rebounding battle 46-35 and allowing the Fighting Irish to secure 17 offensive rebounds.

A pivotal moment in the game was Olivia Miles’ return to the court after recovering from a concerning ankle injury. Although Notre Dame holds the top spot in the nation for 3-point shooting at 42.9%, they struggled mightily against SMU, making only 2 of 18 attempts from beyond the arc.

Looking ahead, both teams will hit the court again on Thursday night, with SMU set to face off against Duke while Notre Dame travels to play Boston College.