The Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s basketball team opened their Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) season with a commanding victory against the Florida State Seminoles, winning 93-58 on December 10, 2023. The match took place at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida, marking a strong start for the No. 18 ranked Irish.
Five players from Notre Dame reached double figures in scoring, highlighting the team’s offensive depth. The victory improved Notre Dame’s overall record to 6-2, while they began their ACC campaign at 1-0. The Irish demonstrated remarkable shooting efficiency, hitting 57.6 percent of their attempts from the field, including 42.1 percent from three-point range.
Strong Start and Consistent Performance
Notre Dame set the tone early in the game, scoring the first 20 points within the first seven minutes. Their relentless offensive pressure forced Florida State into a slow start, with the Seminoles not scoring until they hit back-to-back three-pointers, narrowing the gap to 14 points. By the end of the first quarter, Notre Dame led 25-11, with Cassandre Prosper contributing eight points on perfect shooting.
The second quarter saw Florida State mount a comeback, launching a 12-0 run that brought them within one possession at 31-29. However, the Irish quickly regrouped, closing the half with a 12-0 scoring run of their own to extend their lead to 41-27. Hannah Hidalgo played a pivotal role in this stretch, scoring eight of the final twelve points of the half.
Continuing their momentum into the third quarter, Notre Dame outscored Florida State 24-15, culminating in a 65-42 advantage heading into the final quarter. Iyana Moore shone during this period, contributing eight points while showing off her shooting skills from beyond the arc.
The Irish maintained control and extended their lead to 31 points early in the fourth quarter, ultimately securing a decisive victory. This 33-point margin is noteworthy, as it represents the largest win in the history of the series between these two teams, which spans 16 matchups.
Notable Performances and Future Outlook
Notable contributions came from several players, with Prosper leading the scoring with 21 points, achieving her second 20-point game of the season. Moore finished the game with a season-high 19 points, while Hidalgo added 17 points, continuing her impressive streak of scoring in double figures for 75 consecutive games. Her nine assists also marked a season high. Malaya Cowles and Gisela Sanchez rounded out the strong performance, contributing 14 and 12 points, respectively.
With this victory, Notre Dame improved their all-time series record against Florida State to 14-2, including a strong 6-1 record when playing in Tallahassee. The Irish have also shown resilience in ACC openers, now holding a 9-4 record since joining the league in the 2013-14 season.
Looking ahead, the Fighting Irish will return home to face Morehead State on December 14, 2023, at 19:00 ET. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX, providing fans with an opportunity to see the team continue its strong start to the season.
