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What to know about Notre Dame women’s basketball at Virginia

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•01/18/24•

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hidalgo (13)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard KK Bransford (14) guard Anna Dewolfe (13) and guard Hannah Hidalgo (3) celebrate after a basket by Bransford in the first half against the Miami Hurricanes at the Purcell Pavilion. (Photo by Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports)

Notre Dame is back on the road for the first time in two weeks Thursday. The Fighting Irish are playing at Virginia for the first time since Jan. 26, 2020.

Here is everything you need to know about the Irish versus the Cavaliers.

Notre Dame women’s basketball at Virginia game info

  • Teams: No. 19 Notre Dame (12-3, 3-2) at Virginia (8-8, 0-5)
  • Head coaches: Niele Ivey (73-28, fourth year at Notre Dame); Amaka Agugua-Hamilton (97-38 overall, 23-23 at Virginia; second year at UVA)
  • Date: Jan. 18, 2024
  • Location: John Paul Jones Arena (Charlottesville, Va.)
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Television: ACCNX
  • TV broadcasters: Zealand Shannon and Lauren Moses
  • Radio: 99.9 WQLQ-FM in South Bend
  • Radio broadcaster: Sean Stires

Matchup notables

• There are two major conference players averaging at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists; Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo. Hidalgo is averaging 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.7 steals and 5.5 assists per game.

• The Notre Dame lineup seems set in stone for the short-term future. Ivey did not give any timeline updates on a return to play for junior guard Olivia Miles or sophomore combo guard Cass Prosper. Do not expect to see either one of them on the court in Virginia or any time soon.

• That means, in most games, the Irish will employ a seven-player rotation with senior center Nat Marshall and sophomore guard KK Bransford coming off the bench. In Notre Dame’s most recent win over Miami, those two contributed 16 points in a 70-59 victory. They also combined for 11 of the team’s 41 rebounds.

• End-to-end efforts from everyone are what Ivey is looking for with such a short bench. Senior forward Maddy Westbeld shot 2 of 14 against the Hurricanes, but she still played 38 useful minutes.

• “She does a lot defensively,” Ivey said of Westbeld. “Her presence, just understanding the zone concepts and pushing pace and being a threat. She does a lot of other things that I thought were really helpful and beneficial for us winning the game.”

• Former Notre Dame forward Sam Brunelle was suspended for last year’s game against the Irish. She should be healthy and ready to go this time. In her second season at Virginia, Brunelle is averaging 6.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game. She has started eight of the Cavaliers’ 14 games.

• Despite an overall 8-8 record and a current five-game losing streak, Virginia is 6-4 at home. The Cavs only lost to then-No. 7 LSU by 3 points on Nov. 25. They also played then-No. 3 North Carolina State within 11 points on Dec. 31. In their most recent home game on Jan. 7, they lost to Duke, 60-56.

• “They play well at home,” Ivey said. “They’re going to be desperate with this game with their ACC record right now. And they have some incredible players.”

• Virginia is led by senior forward Camryn Taylor averaging 15.4 points per game. Freshman guard Kymora Johnson is the only other player in double-digits for the season at 11.9 points per game.

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