UVA women's basketball controls pace to beat Notre Dame

Three Cavaliers score double-digit points in the win

Feb. 8, 2026 at 4:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The University of Virginia women's basketball team defeated Notre Dame 81-70 on Sunday, with three Cavaliers - Kymora Johnson (27 points), Paris Clark (15 points), and Tabitha Amanze (14 points) - scoring in double figures. UVa forced 19 turnovers from Notre Dame and dictated the flow of the game throughout, despite a late run by the Irish in the fourth quarter.

Why it matters

This win helps Virginia climb the ACC standings and bolster its NCAA tournament resume as it heads into the final stretch of the regular season. The Cavaliers have now won three of their last four games, putting them in a strong position to make a postseason run.

The details

After being outscored 18-17 in the first quarter, Virginia outscored Notre Dame by nine in the second quarter and 11 in the third. Sa'Myah Smith led the Hoos on the boards with nine rebounds, while Hannah Hidalgo scored a team-high 24 points for the Irish. Iyana Moore hit five 3-pointers for Notre Dame, finishing with 17 points.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
  • At halftime, former UVA head coach Debby Ryan was honored in a ceremony in which a banner was raised to John Paul Jones Arena's rafters.

The players

Kymora Johnson

A Cavaliers player who scored 27 points in the win.

Paris Clark

A Cavaliers player who scored 15 points in the win.

Tabitha Amanze

A Cavaliers player who scored 14 points in the win.

Sa'Myah Smith

A Cavaliers player who led the team with 9 rebounds.

Hannah Hidalgo

The leading scorer for Notre Dame with 24 points and 8 assists.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Up next, Virginia will head out west to face Cal on Thursday at 1o p.m. local time before facing Stanford on Sunday at 2 p.m. After that, the Hoos will have just three regular season games remaining before the ACC Tournament begins on March 4.

The takeaway

This win showcases the depth and talent of the Virginia women's basketball team, as three different players scored in double figures to lead the Cavaliers to victory over a tough Notre Dame squad. The team's ability to control the pace of the game and force turnovers was a key factor in the win, and they will look to build on this performance as they make a push for the NCAA Tournament.