Texas
Vanderbilt
FORT WORTH, Texas (03/26/2026) — Vanderbilt's season came to a dramatic and hard-fought end on Thursday, as the Commodores fell to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 67-64 in a back-and-forth contest at Dickies Arena.
A furious fourth-quarter rally saw Vanderbilt erase a late deficit and take the lead in the final two minutes, but Notre Dame made the decisive plays down the stretch to secure the victory. Despite stellar offensive performances from guards Mikayla Blakes and Aubrey Galvan, who combined for 50 of the team's 64 points, Vanderbilt was ultimately undone by 23 turnovers.
How It Happened
Notre Dame established control early, with guard Hannah Hidalgo setting the tone. Hidalgo scored the game's first basket on a driving layup at the 8:57 mark and added another just over three minutes later to give the Fighting Irish a 6-5 lead they would not relinquish for most of the contest. Notre Dame built a 15-11 advantage by the end of the first quarter.
The Fighting Irish extended their lead in the second period, going up 25-16 after a free throw from Mikayla Blakes with 3:47 left in the half. But Vanderbilt found a spark in Aubrey Galvan. The guard connected on consecutive three-pointers, the first from 24 feet and the second from 23, in a 28-second span to pull the Commodores within two at 27-25. Notre Dame weathered the run and took a 31-26 lead into halftime.
Notre Dame maintained its cushion throughout the third quarter, holding off several Vanderbilt charges. Three-pointers from Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda and Jada Brown kept the Commodores within striking distance, but the Fighting Irish answered each time, entering the final frame with a 50-44 lead.
Vanderbilt saved its best push for the fourth quarter. After Hidalgo opened the period with a layup to make it 52-44, the Commodores began to chip away. A three-pointer by Galvan with 5:52 remaining knotted the score at 57-57, the first tie since the opening minutes. The momentum swung fully in Vanderbilt's favor when Mikayla Blakes drained a 17-foot jumper with 1:48 on the clock, giving the Commodores a 62-61 lead, their first of the second half.
Turning Point
The game was decided in the final 90 seconds. After Blakes' go-ahead jumper, Notre Dame answered on the other end to retake the lead. Following a series of possessions, Notre Dame's Cassandre Prosper was fouled with just 14 seconds remaining. Prosper calmly sank both free throws, extending the Fighting Irish lead to 67-64 and putting the game out of reach for the Commodores.
Star of the Game
Hannah Hidalgo was the difference-maker for Notre Dame, delivering a commanding performance. The guard finished with a game-high 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, controlling the pace and scoring at critical moments. She consistently attacked the basket, as evidenced by her opening layups, and was a force on the glass from the guard position.
For Vanderbilt, Mikayla Blakes and Aubrey Galvan were exceptional in the losing effort. Blakes poured in 26 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, while Galvan added 24 points and 7 boards. The duo accounted for 78% of Vanderbilt's total offense and were instrumental in the fourth-quarter comeback.
What It Means
The loss marks the end of the season for Vanderbilt. The Commodores battled to the final buzzer, demonstrating the resilience that defined their campaign. While the outcome was not what they hoped for, the performances of Blakes and Galvan provide a strong foundation to build on. Vanderbilt won the rebounding battle decisively, 44-30, but the 23 turnovers proved too costly to overcome against a disciplined Notre Dame squad.
For Notre Dame, the hard-earned victory allows them to advance. They survived a significant scare from an SEC opponent, overcoming a difficult shooting night from beyond the arc (6% 3PT) by capitalizing on turnovers and getting a dominant performance from their star player.