Notre Dame Faces Vanderbilt in NCAA Tournament Showdown

FORT WORTH, Texas (Interstat) — A compelling clash of styles and star power is set for Friday when the seventh-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish meet the second-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores in a women’s NCAA Tournament regional semifinal at Dickies Arena.

Notre Dame (24-10), the visiting team, rides a surge of momentum, having won seven of its last eight games. The Fighting Irish advanced with an 83-73 victory at Ohio State on Monday. Vanderbilt (29-4), the designated home team, enters as a heavy favorite following a dominant 75-57 win over Illinois, also on Monday.

The matchup features two of the nation’s most dynamic guards in Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes. Hidalgo is averaging 26.1 points over her last seven games, including a 30-point, 7-assist effort in a win at Louisville. She scored 26 in the win at Ohio State.

Blakes has been equally spectacular for the Commodores, averaging 28.6 points over her last five contests. She posted 34 points in a key road win at Tennessee and followed with 35 against Alabama. In the tournament opener, she nearly recorded a double-double with 25 points and nine assists.

Vanderbilt’s season record, which includes only one loss since Feb. 1, underscores its consistency. The Commodores’ high-powered offense, which has topped 100 points twice in the last month, will test a Notre Dame defense that has held opponents to 65 points or fewer in five of its last seven wins.

Notre Dame will rely on its backcourt trio of Hidalgo, Cassandre Prosper (13 points vs. Ohio State) and Vanessa de Jesus (15 points vs. Ohio State) to counter Vanderbilt’s depth. The Commodores boast additional scoring threats in Justine Pissott and Aubrey Galvan, who combined for 30 points in the second-round win.

The game is expected to be a fast-paced, guard-oriented battle. Vanderbilt has been installed as a 5.5-point favorite, with an over/under set at 151.5 points.

Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 7 p.m. EDT Friday, with the winner advancing to the Elite Eight on Sunday.