Notre Dame Wins 17th Straight, Overpowers Pitt 88-57

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Notre Dame Fighting Irish extended their winning streak to 17 games with an impressive 88-57 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers on Thursday night. This win marked their seventh consecutive game with a double-digit victory margin, further solidifying their dominance in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), where they remain undefeated at 13-0.

Notre Dame’s head coach Niele Ivey expressed gratitude for her team’s performance, stating, “We’re super grateful. Obviously, we’re super grateful this team is really special, playing great basketball right now. Being able to have this type of victory on the road is huge for us.” The Irish showcased a powerful offensive display, shooting 56% from beyond the arc and limiting Pitt to just 18% shooting from three-point range.

Graduate guard Olivia Miles and senior guard Sonia Citron were pivotal in the game, contributing 28 and 22 points, respectively. Citron, who Ivey described as a “silent assassin,” had an outstanding performance, going 7-for-7 from the floor in the first half. Miles also excelled with 15 first-half points, including several three-pointers that helped ignite Notre Dame’s offense early on.

Pitt managed to stay competitive in the first quarter, trailing by just one point as the period ended, largely thanks to junior guard Marley Washenitz’s late three-pointer. However, Notre Dame quickly took control in the second quarter, demonstrating their defensive prowess by forcing seven turnovers and holding Pitt scoreless for extended periods.

As the game progressed, Notre Dame further pulled away, starting the third quarter with a decisive 10-0 run. Coach Ivey noted, “Our defensive intensity ramped up… we got multiple stops in a row, which allowed us to get up and down in transition.” By the end of the third quarter, Notre Dame held a significant 69-50 lead.

Pitt’s standout player, graduate forward Liatu King, who was facing her former team, made an impact with 11 points and six rebounds. Despite King’s efforts, the Panthers struggled to maintain offensive momentum against the Irish’s relentless defense.

Pitt head coach Tory Verdi acknowledged his team’s effort, saying, “I thought we didn’t lay down regardless of what the score was… that’s something that you want to see.” However, the Panther defense was unable to contain the Irish, who continued to score efficiently and widen the gap as the game drew to a close.

After the game, Coach Ivey emphasized the importance of executing game plans effectively. “Defensively, we did a lot better in the second, third and fourth quarters… Really grateful for this win. Grateful for this group. Excited to get back home with our opponent on Monday night,” she added, looking ahead to their upcoming game against Duke.

The Fighting Irish will take their momentum into the next contest on Monday against the No. 13 ranked Duke, marking another crucial chapter in their quest for an unbeaten ACC season. With a record of 22-2 overall, they are poised to continue their ascent as a powerhouse in women’s college basketball.