UConn marches past Notre Dame to stay undefeated and reach Final Four

Connecticut entered the game as the heavy favorite, but Notre Dame showed up ready to scrap for every possession. The Fighting Irish, ranked sixth, gave the top-seeded Huskies their toughest fight in the regional final, even if the final score doesn’t tell the full story. UConn still dominated with a 70-52 win, but the game stayed close longer than expected because Notre Dame’s defense kept disrupting the usual flow. A bench player stole the early spotlight. Blanca Quinonez, coming off the bench, poured in 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds, outshining even the starters. Sophomore Sarah Strong added 21, while Azzi Fudd contributed 13, showing how balanced the offensive attack was. But the real difference came on the other end—Notre Dame coughed up 18 turnovers, handing UConn 19 easy points. The Huskies also controlled the boards, 35-29, giving them extra chances to extend leads.Notre Dame’s star, Hannah Hidalgo, fought hard with 22 points and 11 rebounds, keeping her team within reach for long stretches. Yet, when it mattered most, UConn’s experience showed. The Huskies weathered a third-quarter surge, survived a 5-0 run by Notre Dame, and never let go. Quinonez’s three-pointer with six minutes left sealed the deal, pushing the lead to 19—too much for the Irish to overcome. The win wasn’t just routine—it was statement-making. This was UConn’s 54th straight victory, stretching back to 2021, and their march to Phoenix for the Final Four continues unchallenged. They’ll face a tough test there, likely against South Carolina or TCU, teams with big names and bigger question marks. But for now, the focus is on the Huskies’ relentless consistency.