UConn vs. Notre Dame: Top-10 Showdown in Women’s College Basketball

The highly anticipated matchup between No. 2 UConn and No. 8 Notre Dame in women’s college basketball is set to take place on Thursday, December 12, at 7 p.m. ET at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana. This top-10 showdown promises to be one of the highlights of the early season, with both teams boasting strong rosters and recent impressive performances.

UConn, currently undefeated with an 8-0 record, has maintained its No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll. The Huskies have already secured significant wins against North Carolina and Louisville, with freshman Sarah Strong emerging as a key player alongside Paige Bueckers. However, UConn will likely be without Azzi Fudd, who suffered a minor knee sprain and is considered day-to-day according to coach Geno Auriemma.

Notre Dame, despite some ups and downs this season, has shown resilience. After upsetting then-No. 3 USC on November 23, the Fighting Irish suffered back-to-back losses to TCU and Utah but bounced back with an 80-70 overtime victory against then-No. 4 Texas on December 5. Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles, and Sonia Citron form one of the best backcourts in the nation, and their performance will be crucial against UConn.

The historical context of this matchup is significant, with UConn holding a 38-15 advantage in the all-time series since 1996. However, Notre Dame has won the last two encounters, including an 82-67 victory on January 27 of this year. In that game, Hannah Hidalgo had 34 points and 10 rebounds, while Maddy Westbeld contributed 23 points. Westbeld is currently out due to a lingering foot issue.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN and available for streaming on fubo. Fans can also follow the action through the CBS Sports App.