Notre Dame Dominates Miami in 82-42 Blowout Victory

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Top-ranked Notre Dame (24-2, 15-0) showcased its dominance once again on February 20, defeating Miami (13-13, 3-12) by a score of 82-42. This victory marks Notre Dame’s 19th consecutive win and their seventh Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) victory this season, with each of those wins coming by 30 or more points.

Sonia Citron led the Irish with 19 points, while Hannah Hidalgo contributed 18 points. Olivia Miles and Liatu King added 14 and 13 points, respectively, with King also recording 13 rebounds for her tenth double-double of the season.

Notre Dame set the tone early, launching into a 10-0 run to start the game while the Hurricanes struggled offensively, missing nine consecutive shots. “We wanted to set the tone defensively from the start, and the team responded well,” said Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey.

The first quarter ended with Notre Dame leading 18-6, marking the sixth time this season an opponent has failed to reach double figures in the opening quarter. The Irish maintained offensive efficiency in the second quarter, shooting 57.1% from the field. At halftime, Notre Dame held a solid advantage, 36-14, with Citron leading all scorers with 12 points.

Miami attempted to regroup after a media timeout but struggled to score. The Hurricanes only managed to convert six of their 34 shots from the floor by halftime. Notre Dame’s defense effectively stifled Miami’s leading scorer, Haley Cavinder, limiting her to just eight points.

In the second half, Notre Dame came out strong, increasing their lead significantly. Citron hit a three-pointer just as the third quarter buzzer sounded, capped off a strong frame for the Irish, which ended at 56-28.

As the fourth quarter commenced, Notre Dame scored the final points of the game with a commanding 16-2 run, driven by King’s contributions of nine points and four rebounds. The Irish finished the night with a strong presence in the paint, scoring 18 of their final 26 points there.

Notre Dame will face another tough challenge on the road against No. 13 NC State this upcoming weekend. The game is scheduled to be broadcast live on ESPN starting at noon, with ESPN’s College GameDay providing coverage from Raleigh.