Notre Dame Rolls Into Second Round With Statement Win Over Stephen F. Austin

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish wasted no time making their mark in the NCAA Tournament, delivering a commanding 106-54 victory over No. 14 seed Stephen F. Austin to advance to the second round.

Balanced Attack Powers Irish to Historic Win

Five Notre Dame players finished in double figures, fueling an offensive explosion that saw the No. 3 seed Irish (27-5) surpass the 100-point mark in an NCAA Tournament game for just the second time in program history (previously in 2022 vs. Oklahoma).

• Sonia Citron (24 points) and Hannah Hidalgo (24 points) led the charge.
• Liza Karlen (13 points, 10 rebounds) recorded her first double-double of the season.
• Maddy Westbeld (12 points) and Liatu King (10 points) also hit double digits.

Citron was particularly sharp from beyond the arc, knocking down 4-of-6 three-pointers. Meanwhile, Olivia Miles dished out 8 assists, Kate Koval swatted away 4 blocks, and Hidalgo showcased her defensive prowess with 5 steals.

Fast Start Sets the Tone

The LadyJacks opened the game with back-to-back three-pointers, but Notre Dame responded emphatically, unleashing a 24-5 run to seize control. Karlen provided a spark off the bench, tallying 7 points and 5 rebounds in the first quarter, while Hidalgo led all Irish scorers with 8 points. By the end of the first frame, Notre Dame had doubled up Stephen F. Austin, 26-13.

Relentless on Both Ends

The Irish kept their foot on the gas, pouring in 20 points in the second quarter, including 8 from Citron, to take a 45-26 halftime lead. Their dominance extended into the third quarter, where steals by Citron, Hidalgo, and Koval led to three straight fast-break scores, ballooning the advantage to 37 points by the end of the period.

With 2:35 left in the game, walk-on Luci Jensen drilled a three-pointer, marking the first points of her collegiate career and pushing the lead to 55 points. Sarah Cernugel and Bella Tehrani also found the scoreboard, ensuring that every Notre Dame player in uniform scored at least once.

Defensively, Notre Dame was relentless, racking up 18 steals—shattering their previous season-high of 13.

Next Up: Michigan Showdown

With the dominant first-round win secured, Notre Dame now turns its attention to No. 6 seed Michigan. The Wolverines punched their ticket to the second round with an 80-74 win over Iowa State and will face the Irish on Sunday at Purcell Pavilion.