Full Breakdown
Notre Dame Women's Basketball Dominates Central Michigan
11/25/2025, 1:55:31 PM
Game Overview: Notre Dame vs. Central Michigan
On November 27, 2023, the No. 19 Notre Dame Fighting Irish secured a decisive 83-51 victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas at Purcell Pavilion. The win marked Notre Dame's 19th consecutive home victory in non-conference regular-season play. Hannah Hidalgo led the Irish with an impressive performance, scoring 25 points, providing seven assists, and recording six steals.
Key Performers
Hannah Hidalgo's performance was a highlight of the game, as she not only led all scorers but also tied for second-most games with 20 or more points in Notre Dame's history, now at 56 games. She trails only Arike Ogunbowale, a four-time WNBA All-Star, who holds the record with 60 games. Cassandre Prosper contributed significantly with 11 points, while Iyana Moore achieved a career-high of five steals and made four three-pointers. Vanessa de Jesus also had a notable game, finishing with a season-high in assists.
For Central Michigan, the standout player was (Canton, Mich. / Salem), who scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. Seniors (South Lyon, Mich. / East) and (Baltimore, Md. / McDonogh) each added eight points, contributing to the team's efforts.
Game Dynamics
The Chippewas started strong, shooting 53.8% from the field in the first quarter and trailing by only five points at the end of the period. However, Notre Dame's defense proved overwhelming, forcing Central Michigan into 28 turnovers and generating 25 points from those mistakes. The Irish's defensive prowess, averaging 18.3 steals per game this season, was on full display as they recorded double-digit steals for every game thus far.
Despite being within single digits at 40-31 early in the second half, Central Michigan struggled to maintain momentum against Notre Dame's relentless offense and defense.
Upcoming Challenges
Following this defeat, Central Michigan will return to McGuirk Arena on December 3, 2023, to host Purdue for Youth Day. The Chippewas are set to face a challenging schedule ahead, including matchups against No. 6/9 Michigan and No. 18/20 Kentucky in early December.
Official Statements & Responses
Notre Dame's head coach praised the team's defensive efforts and Hidalgo's leadership on the court, emphasizing the importance of maintaining their winning streak at home. Central Michigan's coach acknowledged the team's early performance but noted the need to improve their ball security and overall execution against top-tier opponents.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics of Central Michigan's performance pointed to their inability to adapt to Notre Dame's defensive pressure, which ultimately led to their downfall. Some analysts suggested that the Chippewas need to focus on ball control and strategic adjustments to compete effectively against higher-ranked teams.
