PITTSBURGH (AP) — A remarkable performance by Olivia Miles saw her equal a Notre Dame record by sinking eight 3-pointers and notching up a total of 28 points, propelling the second-ranked Fighting Irish to a commanding 88-57 victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday night. Notre Dame (13-0, 22-2 ACC) extended their winning streak to 17 games, the second-longest streak in the nation behind undefeated UCLA’s 23-game run. Sonia Citron also made a significant impact with four 3-point shots and a total of 22 points along with 10 rebounds. Additionally, former Pitt forward Liatu King contributed 11 points against her former team.
Hannah Hidalgo, who currently ranks second in the nation in scoring with an average of 25.9 points per game, had a season-low scoring output with just 11 points for Notre Dame. This marked the first time in 14 games that she scored fewer than 20 points, with her last such performance dating back to Nov. 30. For Pittsburgh (3-10, 11-15), Khadija Faye shined with 23 points and 16 rebounds, registering her 12th double-double of the season. Mikayla Johnson added 15 points and Marley Washenitz contributed 13.
Takeaways
Notre Dame showcased their sharpshooting prowess by hitting a total of 14 3-pointers in the game. The Irish have now secured victory in their last three games by a margin of 30 points or more. On the other hand, Pittsburgh was unable to clinch their first-ever win against a top-five opponent and despite winning back-to-back conference games for the first time since the 2022-23 season, they fell short of a victory on Thursday. The Panthers have not reached 12 wins in a season since 2016-17.
Key Moment
With Hidalgo’s scoring limited to just one field goal in the first half, Miles and Citron stepped up to lead Notre Dame to a dominant 27-12 quarter win over Pitt. By halftime, the Irish held a 16-point lead, largely due to Miles and Citron combining for a total of nine 3-pointers in the first half.
Key Stat
Hidalgo’s defensive prowess was on full display as she recorded seven steals in the game, setting a new single-season steals record for a Notre Dame sophomore.
Up Next
Notre Dame is set to host No. 13 Duke on Monday, while Pitt will welcome Virginia on Sunday.
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