Notre Dame takes care of #4 Texas 80-70 in OT

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After back-to-back losses to TCU and Utah, the Irish bounce back into the win column in a gritty game against Texas.

Inches of snow didn't prevent 8,500+ fan from coming out to support Notre Dame Head Coach Niele Ivey and her team, playing in Purcell Pavilion for the first time since November 17th. 

" I'd like to first thank the crowd and our marketing department that the energy was amazing. We were so excited to be home," Ivey said to start her post-game press conference.

It was a back-and-forth affair for majority of the game, but it would come down to the final 15 minutes. With 30 seconds left on the clock, Longhorns guard, Rori Harmon tied the game 66-66. 

With seven ticks on the clock, coming out of a timeout, Olvia Miles gave the Irish a 68-66 lead, but Harmon would tie it again at the free throw line, after a questionable foul against Liatu King, with one second on the clock.

Overtime in Purcell Pavilion. Texas would start the five extra minutes of play, jumping out 70-68. Unfortunately, that was the last time the Longhorns put points on the scoreboard.

Hannah Hidalgo dropped 30 points, but none bigger than her three in transition, tied at 70, giving the Irish a 73-70 lead.

"Hannah had a fantastic game, 30 points. Just led us with her energy or defense just being active on both ends of the floor," Ivey said.

"I think I'm just blessed. Guy has just given me a talent and I just go out there, I have fun with it. I try to have fun every time I step out on the court. Try not to make everything so serious, because it's just a game. But you know, of course, I want to win," Hidalgo added.

Followed by Sonia Citron's triple, the assist from Olivia Miles.

"I'll say Hannah making hers (three pointer) made me make mine. I just want to be like her at the end of the day," Citron said laughing. "It felt good. Obviously, I had some three's that were a little shaky, but I felt like that was kind of a momentum changer," Citron added.

Citron finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and a whopping seven steals.

"I'm really ecstatic for this group. We had a rough week, as everybody knows, we got back to work when we got home, and they were mentally tough. We had a couple really hard practices and film sessions, and they turned the page. They came out, they responded, and they responded with their defense, and again, just the preparation, the mental toughness and the mental focus, that this group had this week, that's the result of them coming in and just getting back to work," Ivey mentioned.