UConn’s undefeated run came to a halt as Notre Dame handed them their first loss of the season with a convincing 79-68 victory. The Huskies tried to rally in the third quarter, showing some life and threatening a comeback. But Notre Dame wasn’t going to let up. The Fighting Irish responded with a dominant team performance, once again finding their rhythm. While Hannah Hidalgo stole the spotlight with a standout performance, it was clear that the entire roster played a role in the win and the HC made it known.

After the game, Coach Niele Ivey, along with Hannah Hidalgo and Liatu King, took to the podium to share their thoughts on the victory. While all three expressed their excitement, Coach Ivey began by acknowledging King, referring to her as the team’s “X-factor” before praising the contributions of others.

“I will start with her (looking at King sitting at her right). I knew she was gonna be the X Factor today. She was amazing, had a double double her steals, her poise, her ability, her physicality, her lyricism. I thought she really kind of just really led us in the first half and it was just fantastic to see her on the stage she’s built for these moments,” Ivey told media.

King finished the game with 16 points, tying with Olivia Miles as Notre Dame’s second-highest scorer.

In addition to her 16 points, King also grabbed 12 rebounds, securing a double-double performance. Meanwhile, Hidalgo finished with 29 points and 10 rebounds, earning recognition from the coach afterward. Although Hidalgo started off slow, she quickly found her rhythm and became the standout scorer.

Averaging 24.6 points per game this season, the #3 remains Notre Dame’s leading scorer, even as a sophomore. Although Ivey didn’t begin with Hidalgo, she later showered her with praise for her performance.

Hannah Hidalgo’s fiery performance sparks Notre Dame’s victory over UConn

“And then Hannah, I mean, fantastic. Played almost every minute on the floor, diving for loose balls, almost at 30 piece. She plays with her heart and then the first half I thought her threes were major. It got the crowd in the game. It really gave us so much momentum. But not just her threes, it’s the level of the way that she scores because it really just ignites us. So really proud of these,” Ivey said in the press conference.

Hidalgo struggled early against a Huskies defense determined to force her left, following her impressive 24-point performance last year when she dominated going right. She missed four 3-pointers before finally hitting one in the last 90 seconds of the first quarter. The guard let out a loud yell, then quickly transitioned into her defensive role, stealing the ball from 2021 Player of the Year Paige Bueckers.

A fast-break 3-pointer on the other end sparked Hidalgo’s fiery performance, essentially sealing the win for Notre Dame. The balanced team effort, highlighted by King’s double-double and Hidalgo’s explosive scoring, handed UConn their first loss, solidifying their dominance and extending their winning streak in this heated rivalry. They will face Eastern Michigan on December 15, Sunday!