SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Interstat) — Hannah Hidalgo scored 30 points and Notre Dame’s relentless defense overwhelmed Pittsburgh from the opening tip, leading the Fightin’ Irish to a 94-59 victory in Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball action Monday night at a sold-out Joyce Athletic Center.

The game was effectively decided in a blistering first quarter, as Notre Dame raced to a 27-17 lead behind a withering full-court press. The Fightin’ Irish forced eight Pittsburgh turnovers in the opening period, converting them into easy transition baskets. This early surge set the tone for the evening, with Notre Dame’s defensive pressure never relenting.

Hidalgo, the dynamic 5-foot-6 guard from Merchantville, New Jersey, was the catalyst. In just 35 minutes, she added four assists and was a central figure in the defensive havoc, contributing to a staggering 24 Pittsburgh turnovers. Notre Dame converted those miscues into 17 steals, with Hidalgo, Cassandre Prosper and Vanessa de Jesus consistently disrupting the Panthers’ offensive sets.

Iyana Moore complemented Hidalgo with 23 points, while Prosper delivered a stellar all-around performance with 18 points, four assists and four blocks. Malaya Cowles added 13 points for a balanced Notre Dame attack that shot 48.7% from the field and dished out 17 assists on 37 made baskets.

Pittsburgh, which fell to 7-8 overall, was led by Mikayla Johnson’s 22 points. Theresa Hagans scored 12 points and Fatima Diakhate added 12 points and two blocks, but the Panthers could not solve Notre Dame’s defensive schemes. Pittsburgh shot just 34.3% from the floor and managed only seven assists against the 24 turnovers.

The most important sequence of the game came during a decisive 17-2 run that spanned the end of the first quarter and the start of the second. After a Johnson three-pointer brought Pittsburgh within 18-17 with under three minutes left in the first, Notre Dame closed the quarter on a 9-0 burst. A Prosper steal led to a Kelly Ratigan three-pointer just before the horn, pushing the lead to 10. The Fightin’ Irish then scored the first eight points of the second quarter, capped by a de Jesus three-pointer, to extend the margin to 35-19. Pittsburgh never recovered, as the deficit ballooned to 51-29 by halftime.

Notre Dame’s offensive efficiency rating of 115.1 on 82 possessions starkly contrasted with Pittsburgh’s rating of 72.2, underscoring the chasm between the two teams on this night. The Fightin’ Irish also dominated in points off turnovers and fast-break points, highlighting the pace they imposed.

With the win, Notre Dame improved to 10-2 overall and continued its strong start to ACC play. The Fightin’ Dame travel to face Georgia Tech on Thursday. Pittsburgh, which has lost four of its last five games, returns home to host Wake Forest on Thursday.