Ohio State Women's Basketball to Face Notre Dame in NCAA Tournament Second Round

The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish will meet in Columbus on Monday for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:06pm

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The No. 3 Ohio State women's basketball team defeated Howard 75-54 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, setting up a second-round matchup with the No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame advanced with a 79-60 win over Fairfield. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2017, when Notre Dame defeated Ohio State 99-76 in the Sweet Sixteen. Both teams play an up-tempo style focused on forcing turnovers and getting out in transition.

Why it matters

This game features two of the top women's basketball programs in the country, with Ohio State and Notre Dame both having strong histories of success. The winner will advance to the Sweet Sixteen, keeping their national championship hopes alive. The matchup also pits two of the quickest point guards in the country against each other in Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo.

The details

Ohio State defeated Howard 75-54 in the first round, holding the Bison to just 33.9% shooting. Notre Dame had an easier time in their first-round game, defeating Fairfield 79-60. The Fighting Irish led from start to finish, forcing 19 turnovers. Hidalgo nearly recorded a quadruple-double for Notre Dame with 23 points, 9 rebounds, 8 steals and 6 assists. The last time these two teams met was in 2017, when Notre Dame defeated Ohio State 99-76 in the Sweet Sixteen behind 32 points from Arike Ogunbowale and 14 from Marina Mabrey.

  • The Ohio State-Notre Dame game will be played on Monday, March 24, 2026.
  • Ohio State defeated Howard 75-54 in the first round on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • Notre Dame defeated Fairfield 79-60 in the first round on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Jaloni Cambridge

The starting point guard for Ohio State, known for her up-tempo style of play and ability to force turnovers.

Hannah Hidalgo

The starting point guard for Notre Dame, a three-time Associated Press All-American who leads the Fighting Irish in scoring, steals and assists.

Niele Ivey

The head coach of the Notre Dame women's basketball team, taking over for legendary coach Muffet McGraw in 2020.

Kevin McGuff

The head coach of the Ohio State women's basketball team, who previously served as an assistant coach under Muffet McGraw at Notre Dame.

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What’s next

The NCAA will announce the tip-off time for the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Monday, March 24, 2026 after the full slate of Saturday first-round games are completed.

The takeaway

This second-round matchup between Ohio State and Notre Dame features two of the top women's basketball programs in the country, with the winner advancing to the Sweet Sixteen and keeping their national championship aspirations alive. The fast-paced, up-tempo styles of both teams, led by their star point guards, should make for an exciting and competitive game.