Notre Dame outscored UNC 40-23 in the second half to blow open a close game in South Bend Sunday afternoon and beat the Tar Heels 73-50. It’s Carolina’s second straight loss and its largest margin of defeat since the end of the 2023-24 season.

UNC had hung tough for much of the first half, trailing by two at multiple junctures before the Fighting Irish increased that lead to six points at 33-27 entering halftime. But the Notre Dame avalanche stared early in the third quarter, as the Irish opened the period on a 6-0 run to lead by double figures, then used a 10-0 run to balloon that lead to 20 points at 49-29. Notre Dame led 55-32 at the end of the quarter and by as much as 29 points at 64-35 before finally taking its foot off the gas.

Carolina had a hard time keeping up with Notre Dame star Hannah Hidalgo, who scored 31 points to go along with eight rebounds, six assists and seven steals. The Irish’s demolition came while they got exactly zero points from their bench. On the other side, only Nyla Harris reached double figures for UNC with 14 points. The Tar Heels shot a season-worst 34.5 percent from the floor as a team, finishing with more turnovers (22) than made shots (19). Of Carolina’s 19 made shots, six came in the fourth quarter with the game already decided.

Sunday’s loss drops UNC to 13-5 overall and 2-3 in ACC play. It also marked the first time this season the Tar Heels have lost consecutive games. The team will be back in action when it hosts Miami at Carmichael Arena Thursday night at 7 p.m.

 

Featured image via Associated Press/Steve Marcus

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