WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Hannah Hidalgo made a remarkable impact early in the game, scoring 11 of her total 28 points within the first seven minutes. As a result, No. 6 Notre Dame maintained a commanding lead throughout the contest, ultimately defeating Purdue 102-58. This victory marks the Fighting Irish’s 10 consecutive win over the Boilermakers.

With this win, Notre Dame improved to a 2-0 record for the season, holding a slight edge in their all-time series against Purdue with a 15-14 advantage.

Liatu King had an impressive outing, contributing 18 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. The graduate transfer from Pittsburgh, known for her prior success in the ACC where she recorded 18 double-doubles and was recognized as a first-team All-ACC player last season, had an efficient shooting night, making 9 of her 12 field-goal attempts. She also showcased her defensive skills with four steals and two blocks. Additionally, Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron contributed significantly with 17 and 14 points, respectively.

Purdue struggled offensively, managing to score only two baskets out of their first 20 attempts. By the end of the first quarter, Notre Dame had established a significant lead of 28-7. Early in the second quarter, the Irish increased their advantage to 23 points. Although Ella Collier and Destini Lombard managed to combine for five points in a 12-4 run that cut the Boilermakers’ deficit to 36-21 with 2:58 left before halftime, Notre Dame finished the quarter strong with a 9-0 run, leading by 24 points at halftime.

For Purdue, Lombard was the standout scorer with 13 points, supported by Collier’s 11 points and Reagan Bass’s 10 points.

In the third quarter, Purdue managed to double its first-half score with 21 points, but it was not enough to close the gap. Miles, returning from an ACL injury that sidelined her for the entire previous season, scored nine of Notre Dame’s 33 points in that quarter. As time expired, she made a stunning half-court shot, elevating the lead to 78-42 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Fighting Irish have been on a roll, having convincingly won their first two games by a combined 44 points, amassing a total of 207 points during this stretch and shooting at a noteworthy 55% (84 of 152) from the field.

Looking ahead, Notre Dame will host James Madison on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Purdue is set to welcome Indiana University Indianapolis (previously known as IUPUI) on Thursday.