Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Advances in ACC Tournament
In a decisive matchup during the second round of the ACC Tournament held in Duluth, Georgia, the Notre Dame women’s basketball team, seeded fifth, secured a 69-54 victory over the twelfth-seeded Miami. Star player Hannah Hidalgo led the Fighting Irish with an impressive performance, tallying 28 points, alongside eight rebounds, five steals, and five assists. Her impactful play was complemented by Cassandre Prosper, who contributed 12 points to the team’s overall effort.
With this win, Notre Dame improved to a season record of 21-9 and advanced to the quarterfinals, where they are set to face off against number four seed NC State on Friday. The Fighting Irish have demonstrated strong performance lately, boasting six victories in their last six games and winning eight of their last nine, including a notable triumph against then-number ten Louisville just days prior.
Game Highlights
Throughout the game, Notre Dame maintained a substantial lead, entering the fourth quarter ahead by 18 points. However, Miami mounted a challenge at the start of the final period, cutting the deficit to 58-50 after scoring the first ten points. A key moment came when Gisela Sanchez netted Notre Dame’s first field goal of the fourth quarter with just over four minutes remaining, restoring an 11-point cushion. From that moment on, the Hurricanes struggled offensively, failing to score on their next four attempts, allowing Notre Dame to keep a lead of over ten points through the final minutes.
In addition to Hidalgo’s standout performance, Iyana Moore added 11 points while Malaya Cowles made her mark on the boards with 12 rebounds. For Miami, Gal Raviv was the leading scorer with 15 points, followed closely by Ahnay Adams, who contributed 13. Ra Shaya Kyle, Miami’s top scorer averaging 16.8 points per game, managed 11 points alongside 15 rebounds but faced difficulties with nine turnovers throughout the contest.
Looking Ahead
Having previously secured a narrow overtime victory against 13th-seeded Stanford, Miami is now eager for a postseason berth. Conversely, Notre Dame will be looking to achieve their second win against NC State this season, having already defeated them 79-67 in mid-February.
