Consistency and Leadership in Notre Dame Women’s Basketball

South Bend — For the Notre Dame women’s basketball team, consistency has been a recurring theme this season. Junior Hannah Hidalgo and head coach Niele Ivey have emphasized it throughout the campaign, urging the Irish to maintain a steady level of performance. The team showed promise with a win over Miami on Thursday and a strong first half against Clemson on Sunday, January 25, where they led 30-25 at halftime. This was seen as a potential turning point for the Irish, who had struggled to beat back-to-back Power-5 opponents with winning records all season.

The victory over Clemson could have marked a significant step forward for the program, which is known for its high expectations. However, the Tigers responded with a dominant 25-9 third quarter, ultimately securing a 65-58 win on Notre Dame’s home floor. This loss highlighted the challenges the team continues to face despite their efforts to improve.

In the postgame press conference, Coach Ivey took responsibility for the team’s shortcomings. She acknowledged that there were areas where she could be more accountable and disciplined. “There are things I could try to do to make them more accountable and maybe make them a little more disciplined,” she said.

Hidalgo, however, quickly defended her coach, emphasizing that leadership within the team must come from the players themselves. “To be clear, it’s nothing that coach Ivey can do to bring a level of toughness to us; this is an individual thing that everybody has to bring consistently,” she stated. Hidalgo believes that as a player-led team, the responsibility lies with the athletes to elevate their performance without relying on the coaching staff.

A Player’s Perspective

Hidalgo has made it clear that she is tired of drawing inspiration from losses. She expects the team to start winning consistently, just as they did during her first two seasons in the program. In those years, the Irish won at least 28 games each season and lost only 13 games combined. Her effort against Clemson, where she scored 30 points, recorded eight steals, and dished out six assists, was commendable but not enough to secure a win.

Despite the loss, Hidalgo showed growth in her approach. “You wouldn’t look at any other team and say, ‘We looked at our coach to bring that toughness out of us.’ That’s not a thing, and that’s not what we’re trying to do,” she said.

Rebounding and Effort Issues

One of the key issues in the game was rebounding. The Tigers grabbed 13 rebounds compared to the Irish’s one in the third quarter. Overall, Clemson won the rebounding battle 40-20, with 14 of those coming on the offensive end, leading to a 20-4 advantage in second-chance points.

Of the six players the Irish play consistently, three faced foul trouble during the game. Still, Coach Ivey pointed to a lack of fire as the primary issue. “Some of them were just missed boxouts or them making the extra effort to go get the ball,” she said. “I think rebounding is a mindset. It’s an energy, it’s an effort. I felt like they were just tougher on the boards.”

Defensive Challenges

Ivey also highlighted the importance of defense, noting that it’s not always about offense. “It’s not always all about your offense; you have to get the stops defensively,” she said. “That’s where the toughness part comes in.”

Although the Irish outscored the Tigers in three of four quarters, it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit. The loss marked the first time since 2020-21 that Clemson defeated Notre Dame, and it was the first time the Irish failed to defend their home court against the Tigers since 2019.

Looking Ahead

With a road trip to California and Stanford on the horizon, Hidalgo knows exactly what the team needs to succeed: grit. “It was nonexistent today,” she said. As the Irish prepare for their next games, the focus will be on improving their defensive efforts and maintaining consistency on the court.

Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at ksmedley@usatodayco.com or follow him on X @KyleSmedley03.