Notre Dame Women's Basketball Rolls Past Northwestern

Irish junior Sonia Citron suffered a leg injury in the second half of Notre Dame's win over Northwestern

Notre Dame experienced a roller coaster of emotions in Friday’s home opener. The Fighting Irish women (2-1) fell behind visiting Northwestern 8-0 2:11 into the game at Purcell Pavilion. Irish head coach Niele Ivey called a timeout, prompting a 15-0 run when play resumed and never looked back enroute to a 110-52 win over the Wildcats (2-1).

Hannah Hidalgo hit a pair of 3s and scored nine of her team’s points during the 15-0 run. The freshman point guard, who was named ACC Rookie of the Week on Monday, topped 20 points for the third straight game to open her career with 21. She added five assists and six steals.

The Irish shot 9 for 16 in the first quarter including 3 for 5 from 3-point range after Sonia Citron closed the first period with a trey from the right wing to make it 24-16.

Citron closed the half with her third 3-pointer of the night and led all scorers with 23 points, but her fortune took a bad turn late in the third quarter when she went to the floor in pain. Citron held her right leg and was in audible pain as she lay on her back with 1:01 to play in the quarter. Notre Dame’s medical staff helped her to the locker room, and she did not return to the floor.

Citron and Hidalgo were among five Irish players who scored in double figures. Maddy Westbeld turned in her second straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Anna DeWolfe and Kylee Watson each scored 10 as well.

Northwestern’s starting five players all scored in double figures in each of the Wildcats’ first two wins over Illinois-Chicago and Omaha, but Hailey Weaver and Melannie Dailey were the only two to hit double figures against the Irish. They each scored 11.

Notre Dame had its most dominant rebounding performance of the season with a 49-29 advantage to help them to a 50-29 scoring advantage in the paint. The Irish also had 17 steals while forcing 25 Wildcat turnovers for 32 points off turnovers by game’s end. 

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