NOTRE DAME, Ind. (Interstat) — Hannah Hidalgo scored 44 points and spearheaded a dominant defensive effort as Notre Dame overwhelmed Akron 85-58 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at a sold-out Joyce Center.

The Fighting Irish improved to 3-0, while the Zips remained winless through three games.

Hidalgo, a sophomore guard from Merchantville, New Jersey, was relentless on both ends of the floor. In just 27 minutes of action, she added nine rebounds and four assists to her game-high point total. Her performance was the centerpiece of a swarming Notre Dame defense that forced 37 Akron turnovers, converting them into a significant portion of their offense.

The tone was set from the opening tip. Notre Dame raced out to a 25-12 lead after the first quarter, with Hidalgo scoring 14 points in the period. The Irish defense was suffocating, creating easy transition opportunities and preventing Akron from establishing any offensive rhythm.

Akron showed a brief spark in the second quarter, cutting into the deficit with a 22-point period. Shaena Brew and Corinne Reed hit key shots to keep the Zips within striking distance, trailing 48-34 at halftime.

Any hope of an Akron comeback was extinguished in the third quarter. Notre Dame tightened its defensive grip once more, holding the Zips to just 11 points while extending its lead. Hidalgo continued her assault, and the Irish shared the ball brilliantly, finishing the game with 30 assists on 31 made field goals.

Cassandre Prosper provided strong support for Notre Dame with 14 points, while Gisela Sanchez controlled the paint with eight points, eight rebounds and two blocks. The Irish shot 47% from the field and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 19 of 24 attempts.

Akron was led by Ni’Rah Clark’s 13 points and five rebounds. Brew added 12 points and Reed chipped in 11. The Zips struggled with the Irish’s pressure all night, and their 37 turnovers overshadowed a respectable 51% shooting performance from the floor.

The victory extends Notre Dame’s strong start to the season, having won its first two games by an average of 62 points. Akron, still searching for its first win, will look to rebound on the road at Cleveland State on Sunday. Notre Dame travels to Detroit for a neutral-site game against Michigan on Saturday.