Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Heads to Virginia After Thursday Victory
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Following an 80-70 victory over Virginia Tech on Thursday in South Bend, the Notre Dame women’s basketball team (15-8, 7-5 ACC) will continue its road swing this weekend with a matchup against Virginia (16-7, 8-4 ACC). The game is scheduled to tip off on Sunday from John Paul Jones Arena at 2 p.m. ET.
The Irish snapped the Hokies’ seven-game winning streak with a strong second-half performance, outscoring Virginia Tech 50-34 after trailing 30-36 at halftime. It was a balanced offensive effort for Notre Dame, with all six players who saw action scoring in double figures: Hannah Hidalgo (16 points), Iyana Moore (14), Cassandre Prosper (14), Gisela Sanchez (14), KK Bransford (11), and Vanessa de Jesus (11). Notre Dame was without starting forward Malaya Cowles, who was sidelined due to illness.
A key factor in the Irish’s success against Virginia Tech was their ability to capitalize on turnovers. Notre Dame outscored the Hokies 29-7 off turnovers, with a particularly dominant 21-2 advantage in the second half. This offensive boost proved crucial in securing the win.
Hidalgo continues to lead the nation in steals, averaging 5.6 per game, and paces the ACC in scoring with 24.9 points per game. She is uniquely positioned as the only player in the country currently ranked in the top 10 in scoring and either steals or blocks.
Moore has also been a consistent threat for Notre Dame, leading the ACC with 3.1 made three-pointers per game in conference play. Her accuracy from beyond the arc is impressive, shooting 47.4 percent against ACC opponents.
Historically, Notre Dame holds an 11-3 all-time record against Virginia, including a 4-2 mark in Charlottesville. This strong record provides a positive outlook as the Irish head to John Paul Jones Arena.
The Cavaliers present a different challenge than the Hokies. According to a report from the South Bend Tribune published January 26, 2026, Virginia under first-year coach Ryan Odom has evolved from a defense-first team to a more balanced attack, averaging 83.7 points per game. While still prioritizing defense – ranking first in the ACC in field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage defense – they are now capable of scoring in multiple ways.
The game against Virginia marks another important test for the Irish as they navigate a competitive ACC schedule. A win would further solidify their position in the conference standings and boost their NCAA tournament aspirations.
