Notre Dame returned from a California road trip to take on the red-hot Virginia Tech Hokies on a seven-game win streak. In Irish alum and Virginia head coach Megan Duffy’s return to South Bend, the Irish put together one of their most complete performances, gaining a critical conference win to bring them to 15-8. All six players finished with double figure point totals to win 80-70 in a comeback victory.
After the game, head coach Niele Ivey said, “I am really proud of this group again, just being resilient and knowing that in this stretch of February, we got to play defense to win games.”
Junior guard Hannah Hidalgo led the Irish with 16 points, but the numbers did not follow a great shooting performance. She also led the team in rebounds and steals. Hidalgo scored 8 of her 16 from the free-throw line, causing other players to be the catalyst in a come-from-behind victory.
Notre Dame quickly found itself trailing 8-2 in the first quarter with 7:26 left after a Carleigh Wenzel three-pointer. The Hokies shot 42% from three-point range, a big part of the first-half control. Notre Dame clawed back to even the game at 8 with a jumper from graduate senior Vanessa de Jesus, who finished with 11 points and six assists. Virginia Tech closed the first quarter on a 13-6 run to lead 21-14.
The largest lead of the game came with nine minutes to go in the second for the Hokies at 23-14. Notre Dame kept its head in the game despite not sinking a three-pointer in the first half, utilizing the free throw line and adding points off turnovers. Junior guard KK Bransford cut the lead to just three points at 25-22 after a pair of driving layups with 6:33 in the second. Sophomore Mackenzie Nelson sank a three to follow, which brought the lead back to 8, but Notre Dame did not quit.
Ivey added, “KK is my x-factor. She is one of our leaders [on the floor], one of our captains.”
Hannah Hidalgo found herself at the free-throw line to cut the lead to only two points with 3:15 left in the half. The Hokies led the Irish 36-30 after shutting down the offense for the last three minutes. It was time for a Notre Dame comeback.
Senior forward Gisela Sanchez sank the first three-pointer of the game for Notre Dame in the third quarter to keep the margin at 5 points with 8:43 to go. Senior guard Cassandre Prosper added 8 points in the third quarter, none bigger than taking the lead for the Irish 42-41 win just over six minutes. However, she picked up her fourth foul and was forced to sub out with 5:45 remaining in the third. It was back and forth to close the quarter, but Notre Dame snuck out leading 55-51.
“We came out in this third quarter and went 7-7 [shooting]. So that belief and confidence we have in each other and in ourselves, I think, carries us through the second [half],” Bransford said.
The fourth quarter began with traded three-pointers as the Irish finally found a shooting rhythm. With the score even at 66-66, the Hokies regained the lead after a pair of Wenzel free throws. Prosper scored a pair of timely buckets to kick off a 12-2 run to finish the game. Notre Dame closed the game with relentless defense, forcing 21 turnovers while committing only seven. Hidalgo, the leader in the country in steals, led the Irish with 6 at the point of attack on defense.
“I thought the team did a great job of adjusting to the change that they [Virginia Tech’s offense] made. Credit to the team again working and having awareness with each other because they had to figure it out in the moment,” Ivey said.
This win finished with three players scoring 14, two with 11, and Hidalgo with 16. Notre Dame will look to continue the balanced effort as it heads to Virginia to take on the Cavaliers on Sunday, Feb. 8. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Extra as the Irish hope to continue their winning ways.
