| GAME 21 | No. 3 Notre Dame (18-2, 9-0) at Louisville (15-6, 8-2) |
|---|---|
| WHEN: | Sunday, Feb. 2 | 12 p.m. |
| WHERE | KFC Yum! Center | Louisville, Ky. |
| WATCH: | ESPN2 |
| LISTEN: | Notre Dame Radio Network |
| SOCIAL: | @NDWBB | #GOIRISH |
LOS ANGELES — After four double-digit victories to start the 2024-25 season, No. 6 Notre Dame (4-0) faces a daunting road task this weekend. The Irish head to No. 3 USC (4-0) for a marquee matchup against the Trojans on NBC.
“We’re really excited,“ Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey told local media this week. “The fact that we get to be on this big stage, it’s just an incredible matchup. They have some of the biggest names out in women’s basketball right now, and it will be great to grow the game.”
The Irish will have their work cut out for them, as USC has a couple of All-Americans on its roster in JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen. Watkins leads the Trojans with 21.5 points per game, and Iriafen leads them with 7.5 rebounds per game. Watkins has scored at least 20 points in 30 of her 38 collegiate games, and she hit 1,000 career points earlier this season despite being just a sophomore.
Of course, Notre Dame has two All-Americans of its own in Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles. Through four games on the floor together, Hidalgo and Miles have combined for a total of 173 points, 57 rebounds, 37 assists and 27 steals. Miles is shooting 55.1 percent from the floor, while Hidalgo sits at 50.7. Hidalgo has scored at least 20 points in three of Notre Dame’s four games this season and is currently the ACC’s second-leading scorer (25.0).
The two stars are joined in the backcourt by Sonia Citron, who had 10 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks and 3 steals at Lafayette on Sunday. Truly a Swiss Army knife, Citron is the only player in the nation with a 10-9-6-3-3 game this year.
Notre Dame’s frontcourt will have reigning USBWA National Freshman of the Week Kate Koval along with shifty post Liatu King, who is returning to the court after missing Sunday’s game in concussion protocol. Koval is one of two ACC players currently averaging a double-double (12.8/13.0), and she broke the Notre Dame freshman rebounding record with 19 at Lafayette. King can do it all, too, as she has led Notre Dame in scoring once and in rebounding twice this season.
Saturday’s game tips off at 4ET/1PT. It leads into Notre Dame football’s 7:30ET game against Army on NBC.