The No. 18 Notre Dame women’s basketball team travels to Detroit on Saturday to take on the 14th-ranked Michigan Wolverines in a rematch of last year’s second-round NCAA Tournament matchup, in which the No. 3 seed Irish routed No. 6 seed Michigan, 76-55, at Purcell Pavilion. Led by two then-freshman guards, Olivia Olson and Syla Swords, the youth of the Wolverines’ roster caught up to it against the much more experienced Notre Dame squad led by then-graduate student forward Liatu King, senior guard Sonia Citron and sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo. The dynamic Michigan backcourt of Olson, Swords and fellow sophomore Mila Holloway will try avenge their loss against Hidalgo and the Irish this weekend.
Notre Dame improved to 3-0 with a dominant 85-58 win against the Akron Zips on Wednesday behind a standout performance by Hidalgo. The All-American amassed 44 points on 16-of-25 shooting and set a Division I NCAA single-game record with 16 steals, bringing her season averages to 34.3 and 7.6 per game, respectively.
“She played with such aggression the entire time,” head coach Niele Ivey said on Wednesday. “She was only on the court … for 27 minutes. It’s pretty amazing what I just witnessed.”
Senior guard Cassandre Prosper added 14 points, and graduate forward Gisela Sachez contributed in the paint with eight rebounds.
Despite three assertive wins against lesser competition, the Wolverines present a non-conference challenge for an Irish team looking to replace key personnel losses in King and Citron. Now, the Irish prepare for a litmus test as they travel to Detroit for a neutral-site game in the fourth annual Shamrock Classic. The Irish improved their record to 3-0 in the event with a 79-68 victory in last year’s clash with then-No. 2 Connecticut.
Like the Irish, the Wolverines face their first true test and ranked matchup after defeating Canisius University 100-40 and Harvard 84-55 earlier this month. Hidalgo will need to continue her stellar play against one of the country’s elite guard trios — Holloway, Olson and Swords.
Olson and Swords earned preseason First Team All-Big Ten honors, and Holloway may push for similar accolades as she leads the Wolverines in scoring with 19 points per game in their first two matchups. All three can shoot the three and stress defenses with their decision-making. It is no wonder Michigan was ranked No. 13 in the preseason. A test is in place for the program’s March hopes.
Both teams rely heavily on guards, but the matchup might be decided by which front line asserts itself on the glass and on defense. Junior forward Ashley Sofilkanich and sophomore guard Te’Yala Delfosse, both 6-foot-3, provide a challenge for Sanchez, who averages 11 points and 8.3 rebounds.
With ample motivation after being sent home early from last year’s tournament, the Wolverines likely hold the intangible advantage, especially with the game in their home state. However, the Irish unquestionably will have the best player on the floor in Hidalgo. Notre Dame’s matchup against Michigan is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday at Wayne State Fieldhouse.
