SOUTH BEND, Ind. — No. 10 Notre Dame will take the floor on Monday night for the first public look at the Irish ahead of the 2023-24 season. The group hosts Purdue NW for an exhibition at Purcell Pavilion at 7 p.m.
The Irish are coming off of a 27-6 season (15-3 ACC) that ended with an ACC regular season title. Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey was named the ACC Coach of the Year, and she took her team to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year.
Notre Dame returns its three leading scorers from last season in Sonia Citron, Olivia Miles and Maddy Westbeld. Senior Kylee Watson is poised for a breakout season, as she will no longer be splitting minutes with center Lauren Ebo. Watson had a 60.1 success rate from the floor last year but averaged just 23.5 minutes per game.
Irish fans will get to see freshman Hannah Hidalgo for the first time on Monday night. The rookie was the ACC’s top vote-getter on the Newcomer Watch List, she shined overseas on the foreign tour, and has continued to dominate since returning to the states.
The Pride went 8-21 last year and 4-14 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which is Division II. Purdue NW lost leading scorer Tadrianna Heard, but second leading scorer Dash Shaw returns after posting 18.5 points per game last year. Dash was First Team All-GLIAC as well.
Overall, it’s a veteran group for the Pride with just one freshman and two sophomores on the roster.
Monday’s game will not be televised, but it is available on 99.9 WQLQ-FM and will be called by Sean Stires and Karen Keyes.