SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame delivered a commanding performance in its NCAA Tournament opener, overwhelming Stephen F. Austin 106-54 on Friday. However, the victory was dampened by an injury to senior guard Olivia Miles.
Miles went down with a left leg injury under the Ladyjacks’ basket with 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. She limped off the court and was taken to the locker room for evaluation.
Head coach Niele Ivey later confirmed that Miles had suffered an ankle injury but reassured that she is expected to be fine. Miles, a first-team All-ACC selection, contributed two points and eight assists before exiting. She had previously missed the entire 2023-24 season due to a knee injury.
Hidalgo and Citron Lead Offensive Surge
Third-seeded Notre Dame (27-5) showcased its depth and firepower, with Hannah Hidalgo and Sonia Citron each scoring 24 points. Liza Karlen added 13 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
“I think we have a lot of firepower,” Hidalgo said. “Everybody plays well together.”
Hidalgo also recorded six rebounds and five assists, while Citron grabbed seven boards.
Dominant Defensive Display
The Fighting Irish turned defense into offense, forcing 28 turnovers, including 18 steals, while committing only 11 themselves. They capitalized on those mistakes, outscoring SFA 38-5 in points off turnovers.
Ivey emphasized defense in the lead-up to the tournament after her team struggled in the final stretch of the regular season, losing three of their last five games.
“I was very focused on going back to the basics, challenging them in practice,” Ivey said. “We made the practices extremely tough so we could improve. Defense was my biggest focus—individual pride, team defense, and communication.”
Stephen F. Austin’s Struggles
Trinity Moore led SFA with 14 points, while Avery VanSickle added 12, and Ashlyn Traylor-Walker finished with 10. The Ladyjacks struggled to keep up after the first quarter, trailing 26-13, and fell further behind at halftime, 46-25.
“We turned the ball over a little too much, which let them get into transition,” SFA head coach Leonard Bishop said. “It’s a tough way to end a really strong season, but I’m proud of this team for battling through adversity all year.”
Preparing for Michigan
Notre Dame now turns its attention to sixth-seeded Michigan (23-10), with the two teams set to clash on Sunday.
Ivey acknowledged the significance of the matchup, given the long-standing rivalry between the programs.
“It means everything,” Ivey said. “They’re right down the road. These are two storied programs.”
