Notre Dame made its trip to Rome even more memorable by completing a sweep of Villanova, with the women's team following the men's victory with a convincing 99-75 win in the opening game of the season. Head coach Niele Ivey had plenty of reasons to celebrate, especially after watching the Fighting Irish men secure their own victory against the Wildcats the previous day.
“What's better than one win is two,” Ivey said, according to the Associated Press, referring to Notre Dame's sweep of Villanova in Rome. Both programs also enjoyed a special experience in the Eternal City, including an audience with Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alumnus, during the Eternal City Tip-Off festivities.
On the court, Hannah Hidalgo immediately reminded everyone why she entered the season as one of the country's top players. The senior guard delivered 32 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and three steals, shooting 11-of-19 from the field. Her impact went beyond the box score, highlighted by an impressive sequence in which she intercepted a pass and leaped out of bounds to keep the play alive before finding a teammate.
Leah Macy also made an outstanding impression in her Notre Dame debut. After missing her entire freshman season because of a knee injury sustained in high school, the sophomore forward erupted for 27 points and 14 rebounds, giving the Irish another major offensive contribution.
Article Continues BelowVillanova received 26 points from Jasmine Bascoe, but her team struggled to keep pace with Notre Dame's offensive firepower.
For Ivey, the result was an ideal start to the campaign. Notre Dame not only opened its season with a statement victory but also made its Rome experience even sweeter with a double win over a familiar opponent.