The No. 3 seed Ohio State women's basketball team saw its season end in the NCAA Tournament's second round for a third straight year, falling 83-73 to the No. 6 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sunday, March 23, at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. The Buckeyes held a narrow 22-20 lead after the first quarter but were outscored 23-13 in the second, a deficit they could not overcome despite a stronger third period.
Notre Dame's victory was powered by a standout performance from freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo, who scored 19 points and contributed 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Sonia Citron led all scorers with 22 points for the Irish. For Ohio State, Cotie McMahon scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Jacy Sheldon added 17 points. The loss concludes Ohio State's season with a 26-6 overall record.
The Fighting Irish advance to the Sweet 16 in Albany, New York, where they will face the No. 2 seed Stanford Cardinal. For Ohio State, the defeat extends a frustrating pattern of early tournament exits despite strong regular-season performances and high seeding.
