No. 10 Notre Dame pulled off an 80-70 overtime stunner against No. 4 Texas, handing them their first loss of the season. Coach Niele Ivey couldn’t stop gushing about her team, saying, “They played with passion and fire. I’m just really proud of this group.” But despite the collective effort, one name stood out: Hannah Hidalgo. With a record-breaking performance, she stole the show. Meanwhile, Olivia Miles— the Fighting Irish standout, who also had an outstanding game—was left in the shadows.

Hannah Hidalgo put on an absolute clinic with 30 points, shooting 11-for-20, grabbing eight boards, dishing out four assists, and snatching three steals. Sonia Citron and Olivia Miles pitched in with 18 points each, and Citron added a whopping seven steals. Liatu King also made her mark with a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds. Still, it was Hidalgo’s heroics that carried Notre Dame through their two-game losing streak.

Interestingly, this wasn’t just any great game for Hidalgo. It was her 17th career 25-point performance, second only to Arike Ogunbowale over the last 25 seasons for Notre Dame. To top it off, she’s the first Fighting Irish player to score 20 or more points in her first three matchups against top-five teams. With stats like that, it’s no surprise she grabbed all the attention.

After the game, Hidalgo, Citron, and Coach Ivey shared the spotlight during the post-game interviews. Hidalgo got her well-earned recognition for the historic performance, and Citron received props for her defensive dominance. But Olivia Miles? Despite her 18-point effort, she didn’t seem to get much of a mention.

Statistically, Miles is having a strong season, averaging 16.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game on 52.4% shooting. But compared to Hidalgo’s 23.9 points per game, her efforts are getting lost in the noise. Fair or not, it seems like Hidalgo’s record-breaking rise is stealing the headlines.

Hidalgo’s Fighting Irish’s overtime win over Longhorns

It’s been a rollercoaster season for Notre Dame, but when it comes to big wins, they’ve got the better resume in the country. The Fighting Irish stunned #3 USC earlier this year and followed it up by taking down #4 Texas in a nail-biting 80-70 overtime showdown at Purcell Pavilion.

After the game, Coach Niele Ivey couldn’t hide her pride, saying, “We had a couple really hard practices and film sessions, and they turned the page. They responded, and they responded with their defense.”

Hannah Hidalgo, the star of the match, embraced the spotlight with grace. Asked why she thrives in high-pressure games, she said, “I think I’m just blessed. God has just given me a talent, and I just go out there and have fun with it.” But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Olivia Miles nearly sealed the game with a clutch layup in the last seconds, only for the whistle to blow and the drama to kick in.

With one second left, a foul on Liatu King sent Texas’ Rori Harmon to the line. Harmon calmly knocked down two free throws to force overtime, leaving the Purcell Pavilion crowd fuming. But Notre Dame didn’t flinch. While Texas scored the first points in OT, the Irish defense locked them out for the rest of the period, securing a hard-fought victory.