BLACKSBURG, Va. — Hannah Hidalgo delivered an impressive performance, scoring 30 points to propel No. 3 Notre Dame to a 77-61 win against Virginia Tech on Thursday evening.

Hidalgo showcased her shooting skills, making 10 of 16 attempts from the field and successfully sinking all seven of her free throws. With this victory, the Fighting Irish improved to 18-2 overall, maintaining an undefeated 9-0 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference, extending their winning streak to 13 games and securing their seventh consecutive triumph over Virginia Tech.

On the other side, Carys Baker emerged as the top performer for the Hokies, contributing 17 points along with 11 rebounds. This loss marked Virginia Tech’s second consecutive defeat and their third loss in the last five outings.

Although the Irish held just a four-point lead at halftime, they swiftly increased their advantage at the start of the second half with a 12-3 run. During this critical stretch, Hidalgo scored seven points while her teammate Olivia Miles added five.

Miles concluded the game with 15 points, while Liza Karlen provided valuable support with 12 points. The Fighting Irish displayed solid shooting, finishing the game at 50.9% from the field with 27 of 53 shots made.

Key Takeaways:

Notre Dame appears to be the dominant force in the ACC, especially with the backcourt duo of Hidalgo and Miles, who are proving challenging for opponents as the season progresses. Hidalgo, recognized as the ACC preseason player of the year, has performed at a top-tier level, scoring 20 or more points in 18 of 20 games played this season.

For Virginia Tech, an ideal performance was required to contend with Notre Dame. However, with their leading scorer Carleigh Wenzel sidelined for much of the game due to foul trouble, the Hokies lacked the necessary offensive boost to keep pace with the Irish.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the Hokies managed to cut a 16-point deficit down to 10, thanks to a three-pointer by Matilda Ekh with 6:24 left. Unfortunately for them, Karlen responded with a 3-pointer, followed by Hidalgo’s three-point play, which dashed Virginia Tech’s hopes of mounting a comeback.

Noteworthy Statistic:

Virginia Tech struggled with ball control, committing 20 turnovers— its second-highest total for the season — resulting in 22 points for Notre Dame.

Looking Ahead:

Notre Dame will head to Louisville for their next matchup on Sunday, while Virginia Tech is set to host SMU on the same day.