Hidalgo’s historic steals propel notre dame to elite eight

Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo etched her name further into college basketball lore Friday night, delivering a triple-double fueled by a record-breaking 10 steals as the Fighting Irish edged out Vanderbilt 67-64 to advance to the Elite Eight.

Hidalgo's all-around brilliance key to upset victory

The No. 3 seed Fighting Irish (25-10) overcame a tough challenge from the No. 2 seeded Commodores (29-5) in a Sweet 16 matchup that showcased the talent of two of the nation’s top scorers. Hidalgo, the No. 3 scoring player in Division 1, put on a dazzling display, contributing 31 points and 11 rebounds alongside her historic steal total. The victory marks Notre Dame's second appearance in the Elite Eight since 2009.

The game remained tightly contested throughout, with Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes battling back from a slow start to finish with 26 points. However, a late turnover and missed free throws proved costly for the Commodores. Hidalgo’s impact wasn’t just in the box score; her defensive intensity ignited her teammates. “We just feed off of her,” said forward Cassandre Prosper, who added 15 points. “Her defensive intensity, it just fires us to do the same thing.”

The defining moment came with 22 seconds remaining when Hidalgo, weaving through defenders, caught an inbound pass and swiftly delivered a pass to Prosper for a two-point lead. Vanderbilt’s desperate attempts to tie the game resulted in three fouls, sending Prosper to the line. She missed the first free throw, allowing Notre Dame to secure the win.

Hidalgo’s 10 steals shattered Chastadie Barrs’ school record of 192. She now stands just one steal shy of becoming the first player in NCAA history with 200 steals in a single season. This performance also made her only the second player to record at least eight steals in multiple NCAA Tournament games. The game saw a flurry of scoring, including a 12-2 run by Vanderbilt sparked by freshman Aubrey Galvan, who finished with 24 points.

The Fighting Irish now face either the undefeated top-seeded UConn or North Carolina in the Fort Worth Regional Final on Sunday. While Blakes’ struggles from the field – shooting 27% – were notable, her performance wasn't enough to overcome Notre Dame's relentless pressure. The Irish proved that defensive prowess can often outweigh offensive firepower, a lesson Vanderbilt will have to learn quickly if they hope to make a deep tournament run.