Clemson Upsets notre dame

South Bend, Ind. – Senior guard Taylor Johnson-Matthews poured in 18 points on a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc to lead Clemson women’s basketball past RV/RV Notre Dame, 65–58, Sunday afternoon at Purcell Pavilion. The win snapped a long drought for the Tigers, marking their first victory in South Bend since Dec. 19, 2019, and their first win in the series since the 2020–21 season.

Clemson (14–7, 5–4 ACC) handed Notre Dame (13–7, 5–4 ACC) just its second home loss of the season, using dominance on the glass and a decisive third-quarter surge to seize control.

The Tigers overwhelmed the Irish on the boards, outrebounding Notre Dame 40–20. Graduate forward Demeara Hinds led the effort with seven rebounds, while Mia Moore and Raven Thompson added six apiece. Clemson collected 14 offensive rebounds, converting them into 20 second-chance points — the most Notre Dame has allowed this season.

Clemson saw three senior guards reach double figures, led by Johnson-Matthews’ efficient 7-for-8 shooting performance. Moore followed with 14 points on 60% shooting, and Rachael Rose chipped in 11 points.

Notre Dame was powered almost entirely by Hannah Hidalgo, who delivered a standout all-around performance with 30 points, eight steals, six assists, and four rebounds, accounting for more than half of the Irish’s scoring.

How the Game Was Decided

After Hidalgo’s layup with 8:39 remaining in the third quarter pushed Notre Dame’s lead to five, Clemson flipped the game on its head. The Tigers closed the third quarter on a 23–7 run, taking control and never looking back. Clemson outscored the Irish 25–9 in the period, building momentum that carried through the final frame.

Despite Hidalgo’s relentless effort to will Notre Dame to victory, Clemson’s physicality, rebounding, and balanced scoring proved too much. The Tigers’ third-quarter takeover erased any chance of Notre Dame stacking consecutive wins against Power-5 opponents, sealing a 65–58 road victory in one of the ACC’s toughest environments.