In a historic blowout, the third-ranked Notre Dame women’s basketball team delivered a crushing defeat to Stanford in a ruthless display of dominance. Led by Hannah Hidalgo’s stellar performance with 24 points, the Fighting Irish secured a resounding 96-47 win on Thursday night in South Bend, Indiana.
This victory marked the worst defeat ever suffered by Stanford’s esteemed women’s basketball program, surpassing the previous record set in 1983 by Long Beach State with a 96-51 win. The magnitude of Notre Dame’s 49-point triumph left a lasting mark on Stanford’s legacy in women’s collegiate basketball.
The game took an unfortunate turn for Stanford early on as Nunu Agara, a key player averaging 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, exited the court in the first quarter due to an injury. With Agara limited to just five minutes of play and failing to score, Stanford faced an uphill battle against a relentless Notre Dame squad.
Contributions from Olivia Miles, who scored 20 points and secured seven rebounds, along with solid performances from Cassandre Prosper and Maddy Westbeld, who each added 13 points, propelled Notre Dame to its commanding victory. On the other side, Tess Heal led Stanford with 10 points in a challenging night for the Cardinal.
Notre Dame’s dominance was on full display during a pivotal second quarter, where they unleashed a 26-2 run in the final 7:44, surging to a commanding 50-15 lead at halftime. The Fighting Irish showcased their offensive prowess by converting seven of their last eight shots, while Stanford struggled with a nightmarish shooting performance and eight turnovers during this critical stretch.
Key takeaways from the game included Notre Dame’s stifling defense, highlighted by six blocks and 16 steals, which limited Stanford to a mere 31% shooting efficiency. Stanford, facing adversity with Agara’s uncertain status, is bracing for further challenges in what has been a tough season for the Cardinal.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Miles nailed a remarkable step-back three-pointer, igniting Notre Dame’s impressive 20-0 scoring run during the second quarter. The Fighting Irish capitalized on their defensive pressure, amassing a significant 45-12 advantage in points off turnovers, further solidifying their dominance over Stanford.
Looking ahead, Notre Dame aims to maintain its unbeaten record in ACC play as they prepare to face Cal next. Meanwhile, Stanford will regroup and take on Louisville in their upcoming matchup, seeking to bounce back from the tough loss against Notre Dame.
For more updates and insights on AP Top 25 women’s college basketball, stay tuned for poll alerts and news throughout the season. Follow AP women’s college basketball coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens
