NCAAW: Behind Hidalgo and Miles, will Notre Dame dominate the ACC?

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A number of top teams are playing on Sunday, Jan. 5, starting with No. 3 Notre Dame taking on No. 17 UNC at 1 p.m. ET (ESPN). Then, we have No. 9 Oklahoma versus No. 15 Tennessee at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN), followed by No. 8 Maryland competing against No. 23 Iowa at 6 p.m. ET. (BTN).

Here is what to look for in each contest and what each team needs to do to come out victorious:

Can Notre Dame dominate?

The Fighting Irish have started the season 11-2, thanks to their elite guard play. Sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo is averaging a team-high 26 points per game, and senior guard Olivia Miles is equally lethal on the perimeter, averaging 16.7 points while shooting 55.9 percent from the field.

Notre Dame should come out with the win and continue their undefeated streak in ACC play.

For UNC to pull off the upset, Maria Gakdeng will have to have a big game. The Tar Heel senior forward is known for putting up double-digit points nightly, but will need to have a career night to pull off the win. Grad wing Alyssa Ustby is another player for UNC who can rise to a higher level on Sunday. If she can match the likes of Miles and Hidalgo, they’ll have a chance to get a win.

SEC Sunday

Oklahoma has impressed in the SEC, and Tennessee will challenge them on Sunday. Sooner junior center Raegan Beers, who is averaging 17.4 points and 9.4 rebounds, will be the key to Oklahoma’s victory.

Raegan Beers starting to get comfortable here

Great seal, Oklahoma working early offense and has scored a few times in the first 5 seconds downcourt pic.twitter.com/k7YpHyBNml

— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) December 18, 2024

While Oklahoma is much more dependent on its stars, the Volunteers are a balanced attack. Tennessee has five players averaging double-figures, and any of them can get hot at any given moment. If a few of them catch a rhythm on Sunday, Oklahoma could be in trouble.

Last but not least

Iowa has done a good job in the post-Caitlin Clark era, with senior junior Lucy Olsen taking over the team. She is averaging 16.9 points per game, and with junior forward Hannah Stuelke and senior big Addison O’Grady being walking buckets on the inside, the Hawkeyes are a formidable team.

But the Terrapins will be favored in this matchup, as they are currently a top-10 team in the country. Maryland is guard-heavy, with junior Kaylene Smikle and senior Shyanne Sellers scoring a combined 30 points per game. Iowa will need to control the perimeter and win the 3-point battle if they want to stay in this game and make it interesting in the final frame.