SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Hannah Hidalgo filled the stat sheet, scoring 25 points, distributing seven assists, coming up with six steals and five rebounds and No. 19 Notre Dame controlled Central Michigan in an 83-51 win on Monday night.
Hidalgo shot 12 of 19 from the floor for the Fighting Irish (5-1). KK Bransford and reserve Iyana Moore each scored 12 points, Cassandre Proper 11 and Gisela Sanchez 10. Notre Dame shot 54% (37 of 69) but made just one trip to the free-throw line, which Hidalgo sank.
Madi Morson scored 15 points for Central Michigan (4-2).
Bransford’s basket with 4:15 left in the first quarter gave Notre Dame an 11-8 lead. Nekhu Mitchell responded with a 3-pointer to even the score for the Chippewas. Notre Dame countered, outscoring Central Michigan 9-4 to close the quarter up 20-15.
With 5:39 before halftime, Moore made a 3 to give the Irish their first double-digit lead at 29-18. Morson made 1 of 2 foul shots with 1:19 before the break to get Central Michigan within single digits for the last time at 35-26.
Bransford then hit a basket with 2:27 left before the end of the third quarter, giving Notre Dame its first 20-point lead, 56-36.
Up next
Central Michigan: Hosts Purdue on Sunday.
Notre Dame: Travels to face No. 13 Mississippi on Dec. 4.