SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP/WNDU) — Hannah Hidalgo scored 27 points, Gisela Sanchez had a double-double in her Notre Dame debut, and the 15th-ranked Fighting Irish routed Fairleigh Dickinson 98-52 to open their season on Wednesday night.

Hidalgo, a national player of the year candidate, made 11 of 22 shots and added six rebounds and three assists. Sanchez, a graduate transfer from Kansas State, contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Vanessa de Jesus, a transfer from Duke, scored 22 points, Cass Prosper had 15 and KK Bransford scored 13 for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame outrebounded Fairleigh Dickinson 41-25 and turned 19 FDU turnovers into 32 points. The Irish had only eight turnovers.

Notre Dame shot 65% in the first quarter and led 27-13. The Fighting Irish had a 21-0 run spanning the first and se

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