Notre Dame Women's Basketball Defeats Syracuse, Showing Team's Growth

Hannah Hidalgo's all-around performance and a stifling defense lead the Irish to a 72-62 victory on Senior Night.

Feb. 27, 2026 at 5:11am

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The Notre Dame women's basketball team defeated Syracuse 72-62 in their final home game of the season, showcasing the team's growth and newfound defensive identity. Led by junior guard Hannah Hidalgo's 27 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 steals, the Irish leaned on their improved team chemistry and mental toughness to overcome a late Syracuse surge and pull away in the fourth quarter. The win clinches a bye in the upcoming ACC tournament for Notre Dame, which has now won four straight and six of its last seven games.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the transformation of the Notre Dame women's basketball team, which has evolved from a squad reliant on newcomers and transfers to one with a strong defensive identity and supporting cast around star player Hannah Hidalgo. The Irish's late-season surge puts them in position for a high seed in the ACC tournament and NCAA Tournament, after struggling earlier in the season to find their footing.

The details

Notre Dame led by double digits in the third quarter, but Syracuse rallied to take a 48-47 lead late in the period. However, the Irish responded with a layup from senior center Malaya Cowles to regain the lead, and Hidalgo followed with a steal and score to start the fourth quarter. Notre Dame then methodically pulled away, holding Syracuse to just 39% shooting for the game, including 30% in the second half. Cowles finished with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, while junior Cass Prosper added 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 27, 2026, which was Notre Dame's final home game of the regular season.
  • Notre Dame has now won four straight games and six of its last seven heading into the regular season finale at No. 10 Louisville on Sunday, March 2, 2026.

The players

Hannah Hidalgo

A junior guard for Notre Dame who led the team with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 steals, continuing her dominant season in which she leads the nation in steals.

Malaya Cowles

A senior center for Notre Dame who contributed 13 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, including a key layup late in the third quarter to regain the lead for the Irish.

Cass Prosper

A senior forward for Notre Dame who scored 16 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and dished out 2 assists, while also playing stifling defense to help the Irish pull away.

Niele Ivey

The head coach of the Notre Dame women's basketball team, who has guided the team through a season of growth and evolution to position them for a strong finish.

Laila Phelia

A player for Syracuse who scored a short jumper to give the Orange a 48-47 lead late in the third quarter, before Notre Dame rallied to retake control of the game.

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What they’re saying

“Everybody did something huge in this game, which is what I love to see. There was a defensive stop, a charge, an assist, a big 3. Everybody is stepping up at the right time. They trust each other.”

— Niele Ivey, Head Coach, Notre Dame Women's Basketball

“It definitely doesn't get old. I love seeing her get the steals and running down the court. And I'm like, 'I can't catch you, but you got it. I know you've got it.'”

— Malaya Cowles, Senior Center, Notre Dame Women's Basketball

“We talked about it a lot recently, but we're clicking. It feels like we're just floating on the court. I feel like we're a very light team, and then we're making the right decisions. But the biggest thing is always in defense. I feel like that's where we're actually clicking. Like, we're moving on a string and we're getting a lot of steals. We're forcing turnovers a lot, so that's the best part about it.”

— Cass Prosper, Senior Forward, Notre Dame Women's Basketball

What’s next

Notre Dame will look to carry their late-season momentum into the ACC tournament, where they have clinched a bye and could potentially earn a high seed with a win over No. 10 Louisville in their regular season finale and some help from other teams.

The takeaway

This game showcased the growth and evolution of the Notre Dame women's basketball team, which has transformed from a squad reliant on newcomers and transfers into a cohesive, defensive-minded unit led by star player Hannah Hidalgo. The Irish's late-season surge has them poised for a strong postseason run after struggling earlier in the year to find their identity.