SOUTH BEND, Ind. — History. For multiple people.
On Sunday, No. 3 Notre Dame (11-2, 2-0) downed visiting Virginia (8-6, 0-2), 95-54. Olivia Miles recorded her second consecutive double-double, notching 11 points, 10 rebounds and tying a career-high 14 assists. She now has six triple-doubles in her career, tying Maryland’s Alyssa Thomas for most in ACC history. Miles also notched career rebound No. 500 during the game, becoming just the third player in program history with 1000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists (Lindsay Allen and Skylar Diggins).
“It’s special,” Miles said postgame. “It’s even more special coming off a year where I [did not play]. It’s a testament to my rehab, the work that I put in. It’s definitely not an easy thing to do, to sit out, but I learned so much, and it’s enabled me to come and do what I do.”
In addition to Miles’ historic achievement, Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Family Head Coach Niele Ivey achieved her 100th career win in just 134 games, a program record and the fastest an ACC coach has ever reached 100 wins to start their head coaching career.
“To see what we’ve manifested with this program is just unbelievable,” Ivey said after the game. “I’m so grateful, and I’m really lucky to be the coach for this group.”
The game unfolded as many Irish contests have this season — with a fast start. Notre Dame took control in the first frame with a 16-0 run to close the quarter. Hannah Hidalgo hit a pair of treys and led all players with 12 points to help give the Irish a 25-9 advantage. Sonia Citron had 9 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists of her own while going 3-4 from the floor.
The run continued and reached 28-0 — the best of the season — in the second quarter before the Hoos hit a free throw to break it. Miles and Liatu King were the stars of the frame with 6 points and 5 rebounds plus 4 points and 6 rebounds, respectively.
Notre Dame led 43-19 at the break, holding its second opponent this month to 20 or fewer first-half points (Eastern Michigan). Virginia went 8-32 from the floor and 1-10 from downtown.
Citron came out on fire in Q3, starting 4-5 from deep and staying a perfect 4-4 from the line. She had 14 points and 6 rebounds alone in the second half.
The senior wing finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds and went 5-9 from deep. Hidalgo had 28 points. They are the first Notre Dame players with 25 points in a conference game since Arike Ogunbowale and Jessica Shepard did it in 2019.
As a team, Notre Dame recorded 32 assists on 38 made field goals, the most assists in a conference game since joining the ACC.
Notre Dame will be off this week before heading to Chapel Hill to play No. 17 UNC on Sunday.