MUNCIE, Ind. — The ACC’s No. 1 offense continues to put on a show.
In a Black Friday road contest, No. 17 Notre Dame (5-1) beat a previously undefeated Ball State (5-1) squad, 90-59. The Irish have posted at least 90 points in four of the last five games.
Notre Dame set the tone on Friday from start to finish. Hannah Hidalgo came out on fire. She went 7-10 from the floor in the first frame with three 3-pointers. Anna DeWolfe added a fourth straight off the tip-off. After the first 10 minutes, the Irish nearly nearly matched the five total treys they made on Tuesday night against Chicago State. Notre Dame had doubled up the Cardinals by the end of Q1, 26-13.
Notre Dame’s defense was even more suffocating in the second quarter. The Cardinals had just 9 points, their lowest quarterly total all year (previously 13). Hidalgo sat for a portion of the quarter with a pair of fouls, but Kylee Watson (2), DeWolfe (1) and KK Bransford (1) combined for 4 steals in that frame.
Ball State went into the locker room having shot just 7-28 from the floor (25 percent). Five of those shots were from deep, and sharp-shooter Madelyn Bischoff was responsible for three of them. Despite the deep balls, the Irish led 48-22.
The third quarter featured more of the same. Hidalgo added 3 more steals, and both Hidalgo and DeWolfe sank treys. Notre Dame ended the third frame on an 11-0 run, holding Ball State scoreless for nearly 4 minutes.
The Irish offense went a bit stagnant to close out the game, and Ball State actually won the final quarter, 23-18. Ball State entered Friday’s game averaging 8.6 3-pointers per game, which ranks 35th in the nation. The Cardinals finished 9-25.
When all was said and done, DeWolfe had her best game in an Irish uniform with 17 points, 5 assists and 6 rebounds. She was 3-5 from deep.
“I knew while recruiting her what she was capable of providing for us,” Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey said of DeWolfe after the game. “I needed leadership, I needed scoring, and I needed someone who can handle the ball. Plus, we obviously fell in love with her. She has an incredible personality.”
Additionally, Nat Marshall had 12 points, marking the first time in her career that she’s been in double-figures in back-to-back games. And of course Hidalgo’s final stat line impressed: 25 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 8 steals.
The Irish have a short break before their next contest, one which will once again be on the road. No. 17 Notre Dame and No. 19 Tennessee will face off in Knoxville on Wednesday as part of the first annual ACC/SEC Challenge. The game tips off on ESPN2 at 5 p.m.