No. 3 Notre Dame (26-5) faces No. 14 Stephen F. Austin (29-5) in the 2025 NCAA Tournament opener. Despite recent struggles with three losses in five games, the Irish boast formidable offensive talent, featuring three AP All-Americans: Hannah Hidalgo (First Team), Olivia Miles (Second Team), and Sonia Citron (Honorable Mention). Hidalgo leads with 24.2 points per game, while Miles excels with over 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Stephen F. Austin, back in the tournament for the first time since 2022, relies on a strong three-point game, averaging 9.4 triples per game. The game starts at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — No. 3 Notre Dame (26-5) is set to begin its journey in the 2025 NCAA Tournament this Friday against No. 14 Stephen F. Austin (29-5).
Despite losing three of their last five games, the Irish’s offensive capabilities still present a challenging matchup for their rivals. On Wednesday, three players received AP All-America honors — Hannah Hidalgo (First Team), Olivia Miles (Second Team), and Sonia Citron (Honorable Mention). Hidalgo leads the team with an impressive 24.2 points and 3.7 steals per game, placing her fourth in the nation for both stats. Miles is uniquely positioned as the only player nationally who averages at least 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and boasts a shooting percentage over 40 from three-point range.
Stephen F. Austin has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in three of the last five years, marking their first return since 2022. The LadyJacks showcase a well-rounded scoring approach, featuring five players with double-digit scoring averages.
The LadyJacks excel from beyond the arc, averaging 9.4 three-pointers per game, which ranks them 10th nationally. Harmanie Dominguez leads SFA with 89 successful 3-pointers this season, while Avery VanSickle tops the team with a 44.3% shooting accuracy from long range, placing her 12th in the nation.
Historically, the Irish hold a 73-27 record in NCAA Tournament games, with this being their 30th appearance, which ties them for ninth place in women’s basketball history. The game on Friday is scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m. on ESPN, with Pam Ward and Stephanie White providing commentary from Purcell Pavilion.