Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1530074
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM DECEMBER 2024 39 BY TYLER HORKA S outhern Cal had the best scorer in the country not named Caitlin Clark last season — true freshman JuJu Wat- kins, an Associated Press first-team All- American along with Notre Dame's true freshman Hannah Hidalgo. On Nov. 23 in Los Angeles, though, the No. 3 Trojans didn't get much from Wat- kins. Notre Dame limiting her to 40.0 percent shooting was just as much of a story in the Fighting Irish's 74-61 win as what the visitors were able to do of- fensively in a hostile environment that featured Snoop Dogg sitting courtside. The stage was set for Watkins to go off for 40 or 50, just like Kobe Bryant when Snoop was on the hardwood for the final game of his career. She settled for Bryant's jersey number instead — 24, which was below her season average of 27 last season. I n No t re Da m e 's f i rs t m a rq u e e matchup of this season, the Irish are clearly much further along on defense than they were a year ago when they gave up 100 points to South Carolina in a blowout defeat. "Defensively, we are where we need to be," head coach Niele Ivey said. There are several reasons for that. One, sophomore guard Hidalgo, who averaged 4.6 steals per game as a true freshman, has picked up where she left off. She understands the game and where she needs to be at a heightened level. Hidalgo averaged 4.6 steals per game in the first seven outings of 2024-25. "I am extremely comfortable," Hi- dalgo said. "Having that year under my belt, I know what Coach Ivey wants. Even though it's a whole new team now, we're adjusting to each other." Two, five-star freshman center Kate Koval. As of Dec. 2, Koval was fifth in the entire nation — thousands of players from hundreds of teams — in blocked shots with 26 in seven games. At 6-foot-5, Koval is one of those prototypical paint protectors who af- fects the shots she doesn't block and emphatically swats away the ones she does get a hand on. She's that much of a formidable force, and she's completely bought into making Notre Dame better defensively. "It's definitely about our defense, our defensive intensity," Koval said three days before the mega matchup with USC. "Coach always puts the highlight on our defense. That's where everything starts. I think that's where it's all going to be at on Saturday." She was right, and you can't have the conversation about Notre Dame's de- fense without also mentioning senior guard Sonia Citron. She shadowed Wat- kins for much of the game, denying the second-year superstar the ball when she could and always having a hand in her face when she couldn't. Notre Dame's Defense Stands Out Early In 2024-25 Season WOMEN'S B A S K E T B A L L 2024-25 NOTRE DAME WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Nov. 4 Mercyhurst W, 105-61 Nov. 10 at Purdue W, 102-58 Nov. 13 James Madison W, 92-46 Nov. 17 at Lafayette W, 91-55 Nov. 23 at Southern Cal W, 74-61 Nov. 29 vs. TCU^ L, 76-68 Nov. 30 vs. Utah^ L, 78-67 Dec. 5 Texas% (ESPN) 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at Syracuse* (ACCN) 12 p.m. Dec. 12 Connecticut (ESPN) 7 p.m. Dec. 15 Eastern Michigan (ACCNX) 2 p.m. Dec. 22 Loyola Maryland (ACCNX) 12 p.m. Dec. 29 Virginia* (ACCN) 12 p.m. Jan. 5 at North Carolina* (ESPN) 1 p.m. Jan. 9 Wake Forest* (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at Clemson* (CW) 2 p.m. Jan. 16 Georgia Tech* (ACCN) 6 p.m. Jan. 19 SMU* (ACCN) 6 p.m. Jan. 23 at Boston College* (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at Virginia Tech* (ACCNX) 6 p.m. Feb. 2 at Louisville* (ESPN2) 12 p.m. Feb. 6 Stanford* (ESPN) 8:30 p.m. Feb. 9 California* (ACCN) 2 p.m. Feb. 13 at Pittsburgh* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Feb. 17 Duke* (ESPN) 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at Miami* (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at NC State* (ESPN) 12 p.m. Feb. 27 Florida State* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Mar. 2 Louisville* (ESPN) 12 p.m. Mar. 5-9 ACC Tournament$ TBA # Exhibition; ^ Cayman Islands Classic at George Town, Cayman Islands; * ACC game; % SEC/ACC Challenge; $ at Greensboro, N.C. Freshman center Kate Koval was fifth in the nation in blocked shots with 26 through seven games. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS