Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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48 NOV. 25, 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BY TYLER HORKA F or the second year in a row, Notre Dame women's basketball has signed the No. 5 overall player in ESPN's re- cruiting rankings. Last year it was 5-foot-6 guard Hannah Hidalgo. This year, it's a post player with almost a foot of height on Hidalgo. Enter 6-foot-5 Kate Koval, just what the Irish recruiting doctor ordered. "Dominant post," Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey called Koval. "She's super competitive. Very high IQ. She's great on the block, but she can also step out and face up on the perimeter. She's a great passer. She's just an elite person, elite player. "Having someone with that size, 6-5, is what I've always wanted. She's going to make a big impact on our program. I'm excited for her." Kate Koval Is The Center Signee Niele Ivey Has Longed For 2023-24 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Time/Result Nov. 6 vs. South Carolina^ L, 100-71 Nov. 12 at NJIT W, 104-57 Nov. 15 Northwestern W, 110-52 Nov. 18 vs. Illinois# (NBC) 1 p.m. Nov. 21 Chicago State (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Nov. 24 at Ball State (ESPN+) 5 p.m. Nov. 29 at Tennessee% (ESPN2) 5 p.m. Dec. 6 Lafayette (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Dec. 17 Purdue (ACCN) 12 p.m. Dec. 21 Western Michigan (ACCN) 6 p.m. Dec. 31 at Syracuse (ACCN) 2 p.m. Jan. 4 at Pittsburgh* (ACCN) 6 p.m. Jan. 7 North Carolina* (ESPN2) 5 p.m. Jan. 11 Boston College* (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Jan. 14 Miami* (CW) 12 p.m. Jan. 18 at Virginia* (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at Wake Forest* (ACCNX) 2 p.m. Jan. 25 Syracuse* (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Connecticut (FOX) 8 p.m. Feb. 1 at Georgia Tech* (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Feb. 4 Pittsburgh* (ACCN) 2 p.m. Feb. 8 at Louisville* (ESPN) 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at Florida State* (ACCN) 12 p.m. Feb. 15 NC State* (ACCN) 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at Duke* (ESPN2) 7 p.m. Feb. 22 Clemson* (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Boston College* (ACCN) 12 p.m. Feb. 29 Virginia Tech* (ESPN) 7 p.m. Mar. 3 Louisville* (ESPN) 2 p.m. Mar. 6-10 ACC Tournament$ TBD ^ at Paris, France; # Citi Shamrock Classic at Washington, D.C.; % ACC/SEC Challenge; * ACC game; $ at Greensboro, N.C. Ivey pulled off the signing of a top-five player in ESPN's recruiting rankings for the second year in a row. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER