SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A high-powered air attack gave Notre Dame its largest win of the season on Sunday, as the eighth-ranked Irish (9-2) downed Eastern Michigan (1-6), 118-49. That mark is the fifth-most points scored in program history, and the scoring margin of 69 ranks eighth. Notre Dame shot 69.8 percent from the floor for the first time since 2018.
Hannah Hidalgo led the scoring efforts with 27 points, but six Notre Dame players finished in double figures including a pair of career highs from Emma Risch (23) and Cassandre Prosper (20). Risch had seven 3-pointers, tied for the second-most in program history in a single game.
The Irish offense was unstoppable out of the gate. Notre Dame had three first-half 10-0 or better runs, and the Irish scored the first 15 points of the contest. Notre Dame hit 11 of its first 15 shots, including four from beyond the arc. Risch had three of those, approaching her season high of 12 points set in the opener just 7 minutes into the game.
Notre Dame went on an 11-0 run to end the half, one that included yet another buzzer beat. A Hidalgo dish to Olivia Miles with a second left led to a trey. Notre Dame finished 9-15 from deep in the half with four treys from Risch and three from Miles. Notre Dame also had 24 paint points and was up 61-20 at the break. They scored at least 60 in a half for the first time since the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Individually, four Irish were already in double-figures: Miles (13), Risch (12), Hidalgo (10) and King (10). King also had 7 rebounds. All seven players who played in the first half recorded an assist, and Notre Dame totaled 14.
The Risch Show continued in the second half with two more third quarter threes. Hidalgo had 9 points in Q3, Risch had 8, and Prosper had 7. The Irish were 12-17 from the floor. The fourth quarter was more of the same, and seven players scored, including a Sarah Cernugel 3-pointer. The lead climbed as high as 74 with just over 2 minutes to play.
Notre Dame now has the week off for final exams before hosting Loyola Maryland next Sunday.