Despite a really slow start to the game going down 11-0, Notre Dame kept their composure and fought back to take control and beat Ohio State, 83-73. The early minutes acted more like a wake up call, and it wasn’t just Hannah Hidalgo taking over (although she was insanely good). Four other Notre Dame players scored in double digits, and collectively they made a bunch of great plays to help send the irish back to the Sweet Sixteen.
Irish Dance Into Fifth-Straight Sweet Sixteen
COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the
fifth straight season the Fighting Irish are heading back to the Sweet Sixteen, as Notre Dame defeated No. 3 seed Ohio State 83-73 on Monday afternoon inside the Schottenstein Center.
The Irish will take on the winner of No. 2 seed Vanderbilt and No. 7 seed Illinois on Friday, March 27 in Fort Worth, Texas inside Dickies Arena. The game will air on one of the ESPN family of networks.
Notre Dame featured a well balanced offensive attack, as five players finished in double figures in the scoring column. Hannah Hidalgo led the way with 26 points to go along with 13 rebounds, eight steals and two assists.
Vanessa de Jesus scored 15 points while Cassandre Prosper and Iyana Moore each recorded 13 apiece. KK Bransford came in and added 10 points off the bench in 21 minutes of action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Buckeyes started the game by scoring the first 11 points to open up an early double-digit lead before the Irish began to settle in.
Notre Dame responded with a 12-4 run, spurred by back-to-back three pointers from Moore, to trim the host’s lead to three at 15-12 with 4:32 left in the first quarter. The two sides traded buckets for the remaining of the first frame before the Irish scored the final four points to make it a one-possession game as Ohio State led 22-20 after the first 10 minutes of play.
After a made jumper by the Buckeyes pushed their lead back to four to open the second quarter the Irish took over the next five minutes of play. Notre Dame scored 13 of the next 17 points to go on top 33-26 with 4:30 left in the half.
Ohio State managed to trim the lead to two at 37-35 before the Irish closed the half strong, scoring the final six points of the half to take a 43-35 lead into the halftime break.
Notre Dame was extremely balanced in the opening 20 minutes of play, as five players scored six or more points.
The Irish picked up right where they left off to start the second half, scoring seven of the first nine points to push the advantage to 13 points at 50-37, forcing an early Ohio State timeout.
Ohio State refused to go away, rattling off the next 10 points to make it a one-possession game at 50-47 with just under 5 minutes left in the third stanza. The Buckeyes cut the Irish lead to one in the third but were never able to tie or take the lead, as the Irish took a 58-54 lead into the final 10 minutes of regulation.
Moore and de Jesus each connected on three pointers early in the fourth followed by a bucket from Hidalgo to quickly stretch the lead back to double digits at 66-56 with 7 minutes left in the game.
Notre Dame never allowed Ohio State to get closer than 10 the rest of the way, leading by as many as 18 at 83-65 with under a minute to play before going on to win by a final score of 83-73.
NOTRE DAME STAT OF THE GAME
The Irish defense completely shackled the Ohio State offense in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes recorded just nine field-goal attempts from the field while turning it over seven times.
NOTRE DAME NOTES
- Notre Dame improves to 77-28 in the NCAA Tournament in program history, including a mark of 21-5 in second round contests.
- Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Head Women’s Basketball Coach Niele Ivey is 5-0 in NCAA Tournament second round games and 10-4 overall in the NCAA Tournament in her career.
- The Irish improved to 5-1 against Ohio State in the all-time series, winners of each of the last five matchups.
- Notre Dame was excellent from the free-throw line, converting 23-of-26 attempts.
- Hidalgo set the single-season program record for points with 856, passing Arike Ogunbowale’s previous record of 849 during the 2018-19 season.
- Hidalgo has scored 20 or more points in nine straight games, marking the third time in her career she has recorded at least nine straight games with 20+ points.
- With 26 points, Hidalgo has scored 20+ points in 27 games this season and 78 games in her career, which is the program record.
- Hidalgo has finished in double figures in the scoring column in all 101 games of her career, the longest streak in program history and the longest active streak in the country.
- Moore moved into a tie for fourth in program history for made three pointers in a season with 80. Moore is tied with Marina Mabrey (2018-19)
UP NEXT
The Irish will take on the No. 2 seed Vanderbilt Commodores on Friday, March 27 inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line. The game will air on one of the ESPN family of networks.
