Image Source: Matt Bowling
Key Takeaways
- The University of North Carolina’s women’s basketball team suffered a significant loss to Notre Dame, with a final score of 73-50.
- The Tar Heels had a poor shooting day, with 19-of-55 (35%) from the field and 4-of-14 (29%) from 3-point range.
- The team struggled with turnovers, committing 22, which led to 27 Notre Dame points.
- Carolina’s performance underneath the basket dropped off significantly in the second half, with Notre Dame outrebounding them 23-11.
- The Tar Heels will try to avoid a third straight loss when they host Miami on Thursday.
Introduction to the Loss
The University of North Carolina’s women’s basketball team faced a tough opponent in Notre Dame on Sunday, and unfortunately, they came up short. As the article states, "Sunday’s trip to Notre Dame made it clear that Carolina has some soul searching to do." With a full week to prepare for the Fighting Irish after a home loss to Stanford, the Tar Heels were competitive in the first half but fell apart in the second. The final score of 73-50 was a clear indication of the team’s struggles, with Notre Dame outscoring Carolina 22-5 in the third quarter to turn a 33-27 lead into a 55-32 lead.
Shooting Struggles
The Tar Heels had a rough shooting day, finishing 19-of-55 (35%) from the field, including 4-of-14 (29%) from 3-point range. As the article notes, "Carolina had a rough shooting day, finishing 19-of-55 (35%) from the field, including 4-of-14 (29%) from 3-point range." This poor shooting performance was a significant factor in the team’s loss, as they were unable to keep up with Notre Dame’s scoring pace. The team’s struggles with shooting were evident throughout the game, and it will be essential for them to work on this aspect of their game to improve their chances of winning in the future.
Turnover Troubles
In addition to their shooting struggles, the Tar Heels also had issues with turnovers. The team committed 22 turnovers, which led to 27 Notre Dame points. As the article states, "The Tar Heels also struggled to take care of the ball, with 22 UNC turnovers leading to 27 Notre Dame points." This was a significant difference-maker in the game, as Notre Dame was able to capitalize on Carolina’s mistakes and turn them into scoring opportunities. The Tar Heels will need to work on taking better care of the ball to avoid giving their opponents easy scoring chances.
Rebounding Disparity
The Tar Heels’ performance underneath the basket was also a concern, particularly in the second half. As the article notes, "There was a jarring dropoff in the Tar Heels’ performance underneath the basket from the first half to the second." In the first half, Carolina outrebounded the Irish 21-17, including 9-5 on the offensive glass, and outscored them 18-10 in the paint. However, in the second half, Notre Dame outrebounded the Tar Heels 23-11, including 12-5 on the offensive glass, and outscored them 20-10 in the paint. This significant disparity in rebounding was a major factor in the team’s loss, as Notre Dame was able to control the boards and limit Carolina’s scoring opportunities.
Notre Dame’s Dominant Performance
Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo was a dominant force in the game, putting up 31 points, eight rebounds, seven steals, and six assists. As the article states, "Like most teams, Carolina had no answer for Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, who put up 31 points (her fifth 30-point game of the season), eight rebounds, seven steals and six assists." The Irish also got big outings from Cassandre Prosper, who had 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Duke transfer Vanessa de Jesus, who hit 4-of-5 threes and 6-of-7 field goals to finish with 16 points. Nyla Harris led UNC with 14 points and eight rebounds, but it was not enough to overcome the dominant performance of the Irish.
Looking Ahead
With the loss, Carolina drops to 13-5 on the season, 2-3 in ACC play, and 0-4 in NET Quad 1 games. The Tar Heels will likely find themselves unranked in the next AP poll, having started the season ranked #11. As the article notes, "The Tar Heels will try to avoid a third straight loss, which hasn’t happened since the 2023-24 season, when they host Miami on Thursday." The game starts at 7:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. The Tar Heels will need to regroup and refocus to avoid a third straight loss and get back on track in the ACC standings.
https://www.tarheelblog.com/unc-basketball/50771/unc-womens-basketball-notre-dame-game-summary-box-score