WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NBC stage has been kind to Notre Dame women’s basketball.
Last year, the Irish played in the first women’s basketball game ever televised on NBC. On Saturday, Notre Dame (3-1) played in the second. The nation’s No. 16 team topped Illinois (2-2), 79-68. Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey’s team never trailed and built a lead as large as 20.
Hannah Hidalgo and Maddy Westbeld stole the show once again. Hidalgo 24 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals. Westbeld had a season-high 24 points and her 60th career game in double figures. She was a pair of rebounds shy of her third consecutive double-double.
Outside of Hidalgo and Westbeld, KK Bransford was the only other player in double-figures with 11. She added 7 boards and 4 assists, and much of what she did isn’t reflected in the box score. Her physicality and ability to play everything from the point guard and the point forward were paramount to Notre Dame’s success.
Both teams struggled in the fouls column. Westbeld and Watson each had 4 fouls prior to the start of the final quarter. Illinois had five players finish with at least 3 fouls. Watson ultimately fouled out for Notre Dame. As a result, Nat Marshall played 25 minutes, just a few shy of her career high of 28.
Ivey was particularly happy with her team’s rebounding effort, particularly on the offensive end of the court. Notre Dame had 14 offensive boards and outrebounded Illinois on the whole by 11 (36-25). The Irish also scored 31 points off of turnovers.
Nearly half of Illinois’ offense was courtesy of point guard Genesis Bryant. She entered Saturday’s game averaging 16.3 points per game, and she put up 31 on Saturday. Notre Dame was able to successfully get some pressure on her, forcing 8 turnovers. Unanimous All- Big Ten First Team member Makira Cook had 7 of her own.
In addition to All-American Olivia Miles, Notre Dame was without Sonia Citron, who will miss a few weeks with a knee sprain.
Notre Dame heads back to South Bend for its next contest. Chicago State (0-6) visits on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The game can be streamed on ACCNX.