SOUTH BEND, Ind. — In a remarkable performance, Hannah Hidalgo tallied 24 points as No. 3 Notre Dame delivered a stunning 96-47 victory over Stanford on Thursday night. This defeat marks the most significant loss in the history of Stanford’s women’s basketball program.
The 49-point margin eclipsed the previous worst loss, which was a 45-point defeat suffered in 1983 against Long Beach State (96-51) prior to this encounter in South Bend.
Stanford’s struggles were compounded when sophomore forward Nunu Agara, who averages 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, left the match early due to an injury after only five minutes of play, finishing without scoring.
In addition to Hidalgo’s standout performance, Olivia Miles contributed significantly with 20 points and seven rebounds for the Fighting Irish (20-2, 11-0 ACC). Teammates Cassandre Prosper and Maddy Westbeld each added 13 points to the impressive win.
Tess Heal was the lone bright spot for Stanford (11-11, 3-8 ACC), leading her team with only 10 points. The Fighting Irish seized control of the game with an overwhelming 26-2 run during the last 7:44 of the second quarter, heading into halftime with a commanding 50-15 lead. Notre Dame showcased their offensive prowess, hitting seven out of their last eight shots in that quarter, while Stanford struggled with just one successful shot from nine attempts and committed eight turnovers during that dismal stretch.
Takeaways
The defensive prowess of Notre Dame was evident as they recorded six blocks and 16 steals, forcing Stanford into a mere 31 percent shooting. For Stanford, the potential long-term impact of Agara’s injury poses further challenges in what has already been a difficult season.
Key Moment
A pivotal moment came when Miles executed a dazzling step-back three-pointer, which highlighted Notre Dame’s impressive 20-0 run within the second quarter.
Key Stat
Notre Dame established complete dominance with a 45-12 edge in points scored off turnovers.
Looking Ahead
The Fighting Irish will aim to maintain their unbeaten record in ACC play as they prepare to host Cal on Sunday. Meanwhile, Stanford is set to face Louisville on the same day.
