UConn Women’s Basketball Dominates Notre Dame
In an impressive display of dominance, the University of Connecticut (UConn) women’s basketball team, currently ranked first, triumphed over Notre Dame with a score of 85-47 on Monday night in Storrs, Connecticut. This victory marks UConn’s 19th consecutive win and concludes a three-game losing streak against the Fighting Irish.
Standout Performances
Sarah Strong was a standout player for the Huskies, scoring 18 points, which included her milestone 1,000th career point achieved with a three-pointer in the first half. Strong aced this career achievement in only 59 games, making her one of the fastest players at UConn to do so, joining icons Paige Bueckers and Maya Moore. In addition to her scoring, Strong contributed significantly with 11 rebounds, three steals, and three blocked shots.
Supporting Strong were her teammates, with KK Arnold contributing 12 points and five assists while also defending against Notre Dame’s standout player, Hannah Hidalgo. Azzi Fudd and Ashlynn Shade chipped in with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Fudd’s performance, along with Shade’s four assists, helped UConn to their 35th straight win and their largest margin of victory over Notre Dame in the history of their matchups.
Game Highlights
Notre Dame found it difficult to establish rhythm, missing their first seven shots and falling behind early. The Huskies established a solid eight-point lead right away, with Arnold’s basket eventually launching them into double-digit territory by the end of the first quarter. Although Hidalgo normally excels against UConn, averaging 31.5 points in their prior two encounters, she was limited to 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting this time around. Despite the challenges, Hidalgo managed to maintain her streak of scoring in double figures for 85 consecutive games.
The Fighting Irish managed to slice the deficit down to 32-23 by halftime, courtesy of Hidalgo’s late surge in the second quarter, although they became the first UConn opponent this season to enter the second half trailing by single digits. An explosive run of 18-2 during the third quarter, however, effectively sealed the game for UConn.
Looking Ahead
Notre Dame, standing at 12-6, will look to regroup as they prepare to host Miami on Thursday. Meanwhile, UConn, now boasting a perfect 19-0 record, is set to face Georgetown on the same day.
