Hidalgo’s Clutch Shot Lifts No. 24 Notre Dame Over No. 11 Southern Cal 61-59
Notre Dame secured a significant early-season victory, defeating No. 11 Southern Cal 61-59 thanks to a game-winning jumper from junior guard Hannah Hidalgo with just 1.9 seconds remaining. The hard-fought contest, presented by Verizon, took place inside a vibrant Purcell Pavilion and marks a signature win for the No. 24 Fighting Irish (4-1).
Hidalgo’s heroics capped off a dominant individual performance, finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and two assists. The Irish rallied from behind, fueled by a suffocating defense that held the Trojans to a mere eight points in the fourth quarter.
Notre Dame’s comeback was a team effort, with Vanessa de Jesus contributing 13 points, four assists, and two steals, while KK Bransford added 11 points, nine of which came in the crucial final frame. The Irish finished the night with an impressive 16 steals, disrupting the Trojans’ offense throughout the contest.
The game began with Southern Cal taking an early lead at 10-6. However, Notre Dame responded with a 9-0 run, sparked by aggressive defense, to gain a 15-10 advantage. Southern Cal closed the first quarter strong, trimming the Irish lead to 15-14.
The second quarter saw a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to establish a significant lead. Hidalgo opened the stanza with a three-pointer, but Southern Cal answered with a 7-0 run to regain the lead at 21-18. The Trojans ultimately headed into halftime with a narrow 33-31 advantage, with both Hidalgo and de Jesus already in double figures.
Southern Cal extended their lead early in the third quarter, outscoring Notre Dame 10-2 to establish an eight-point cushion at 43-35. The Trojans’ advantage grew to as many as 11 before the Irish began to mount their comeback. A late surge, capped by a steal and fastbreak layup from Hidalgo, ignited the Purcell Pavilion crowd and cut the deficit to 51-46 heading into the final quarter.
Notre Dame carried the momentum into the fourth, scoring the first four points to close the gap to 51-50. After a Trojan free throw, Cassandre Prosper leveled the score with a driving layup, forcing a Southern Cal timeout. The teams continued to trade baskets, with Bransford and Hidalgo leading the charge for the Irish. A clutch layup from Bransford tied the game at 59-59 with 38 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Hidalgo’s decisive shot.
Following Hidalgo’s go-ahead jumper and a Southern Cal timeout with 1.9 seconds left, Prosper sealed the victory by deflecting the inbound pass, preventing the Trojans from getting a final shot off as time expired.
Notre Dame now leads the all-time series against Southern Cal 10-2, having won the last three matchups. The Irish have recorded double-digit steals in all three games this season and have achieved 10 or more steals in 49 of their last 74 games dating back to the beginning of the 2023-24 season. This win also extends Notre Dame’s home winning streak in non-conference regular season play to 17 games.
Hidalgo’s performance further solidifies her place in Notre Dame history, marking her 55th career game with 20 or more points – the third-most in program history. She also surpassed Brianna Turner for ninth place in career free throws made, now totaling 379.
The Fighting Irish will return to action on Monday, Nov. 24, hosting Central Michigan at 9 p.m. ET inside Purcell Pavilion, with the game airing on ACCN.
