Hannah Hidalgo delivered a monumental performance on Wednesday night, making history as she propelled the No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a commanding 85-58 victory over Akron at Purcell Pavilion. She scored a remarkable 44 points, setting a new single-game scoring record for the program, while also making headlines with an astounding 16 steals, which broke her own previous record and established a new NCAA benchmark for single-game steals.
In a game where Hidalgo showcased her scoring prowess, she accumulated 41 of her points by the end of the third quarter, allowing Notre Dame to maintain a comfortable 25-point lead going into the last period. With just a few minutes gone in the fourth quarter, she effortlessly netted a fast-break layup that marked her record-breaking 43rd point.
Hidalgo’s efficient shooting displayed her skill, going 16-of-25 from the field and making 9-of-11 at the charity stripe. She also contributed nine rebounds, further highlighting her all-around performance. Teammates Cassandre Prosper and Gisela Sanchez added to the team’s success with 14 points and eight points with eight rebounds, respectively.
The victory bolstered Notre Dame’s perfect start to the season, now at 3-0, following two prior blowout wins against Fairleigh Dickinson and Chicago State, where they outscored their opponents by an average of nearly 50 points.
Hidalgo, who earned All-American honors last season and helped lead Notre Dame to a fourth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, has kicked off this season in stellar form, averaging 34.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game so far. This rapid start also includes 23 steals, a sharp contrast to last season when she took seven games to achieve the same number.
The Fighting Irish face their next challenges as they prepare to confront No. 14 Michigan in Detroit and host No. 8 USC shortly thereafter. With Hidalgo at the helm, there is a strong sense of confidence that the team can navigate this competitive stretch, building on the momentum from her historic performance and reaffirming that they remain contenders this season.