Notre Dame women’s basketball defeats visiting Miami Sunday
SOUTH BEND — The nation’s men’s or women’s leader in thievery by more than one a game, freshman Hannah Hidalgo padded her total with another seven steals — and methodically mixed in 25 points and seven rebounds, too — as Notre Dame women’s basketball shook off a frosty start for a 70-59 win over Miami on Sunday at Purcell Pavilion.
Sonia Citron added 15 points as the No. 18-ranked Irish moved to 12-3 overall, 3-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
KK Bransford contributed 10 points — all in the first half — and a team-high eight rebounds.
ND missed 14 of its first 17 shots from the field and trailed 9-6 at more than seven minutes in, but outscored the Hurricanes (11-5, 1-4) 34-15 over the rest of the first half for a 40-24 lead at the break.
The hosts stretched their lead to 23 points by the opening minute of the fourth quarter.
Hidalgo, averaging 5.7 steals, went 9-of-19 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers and 5-of-7 at the line.
Jaida Patrick led Miami with 15 points.
The Irish hit the road for their next two games, visiting Virginia for a 7 p.m. tip Thursday and heading to Wake Forest for a 2 p.m. contest next Sunday.
The Cavaliers were 8-7 overall, 0-4 in the ACC, heading into their game later Sunday at North Carolina, while the Demon Deacons were 4-12 and 0-4 pending the completion of their visit to Louisville.
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