Notre Dame Defeats Fairfield in Women's NCAA Tournament First Round

Fighting Irish advance to second round with 72-53 victory over Stags

Mar. 16, 2026 at 12:33am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 6-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball team defeated the 11-seeded Fairfield Stags 72-53 in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The game was played in Columbus, Ohio as part of the Columbus regional. Notre Dame led throughout, powered by a strong performance from star player Hannah Hidalgo.

Why it matters

This victory keeps Notre Dame's NCAA Tournament hopes alive as they advance to the second round. Fairfield, making their 8th tournament appearance, were unable to pull off the upset despite their strong 3-point shooting and 11-game winning streak entering the game.

The details

Notre Dame jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 19 points in the second half. Fairfield's top scorers Kaety L'Amoreaux and Meghan Andersen were held in check, combining for just 27 points. Notre Dame's defense was able to limit Fairfield's 3-point shooting, a key strength for the Stags during the regular season.

  • The first-round game was played on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • Fairfield won the MAAC tournament championship on Monday, March 9, 2026 to earn their NCAA Tournament berth.

The players

Hannah Hidalgo

The star player for Notre Dame who led the team to victory with a strong performance.

Kaety L'Amoreaux

Fairfield's leading scorer, averaging 17.6 points per game during the regular season.

Meghan Andersen

Fairfield's second-leading scorer, averaging 16 points per game during the regular season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must have been prepared for their 3-point shooting, and our defense was able to limit their opportunities from deep. That was a key factor in the win.”

— Niele Ivey, Notre Dame Head Coach (ndinsider.com)

What’s next

Notre Dame will face the winner of the Ohio State vs. Howard matchup in the second round on Monday, March 23, 2026.

The takeaway

Notre Dame's victory over Fairfield sets up a potential showdown with in-state rival Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Irish's ability to contain Fairfield's 3-point shooting was a key factor in their first-round win.