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One month after Sonia Citron, Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo first took the court against Mercyhurst University, the Fighting Irish women’s basketball team had their first rough week of the season. The team started the season with a five-game win streak, toppling tough opponents like USC in a series of dominant victories and rapidly rising to take the Trojans’ place as No. 3 in the nation. However, after dropping two tough games to No. 17 TCU and Utah on a trip to the tropical Cayman Islands Classic over Thanksgiving weekend, the team tumbled to No. 10 in the AP Top 25 Poll. With a chance to bounce back against No. 4 Texas and No. 2 UConn, both with home-court advantage in Purcell Pavilion, the Irish seek to start December off with a winning streak once more.

Coming into this season, the Irish roster was trimmed with Maddy Westbeld and Kylee Watson both out with injuries. Pittsburgh transfer and forward Liatu King has added to the team’s momentum, putting up 16 points in the Irish loss to Utah and leading the team in rebounds so far this season. With only two substitutes on the bench in the last few games, the entire roster must continue to play nimbly in each of the Irish’s upcoming games. The team can ill afford to lose any more athletes to injuries, but based on their performance so far this season, they’re ready to rise to the challenge.

The march toward March has already started for the Irish! Don’t forget to check your student emails from Notre Dame Athletics for the women’s basketball schedule and head to Purcell Pavilion to cheer on the Irish!