Let the madness continue! After the weekend’s eventful days of First Round action, we’ve got more talented players and potential Cinderella’s ready to dance in Round 2. #6 Notre Dame and #3 Ohio State face off Monday in the Women’s Second Round, with the Buckeyes entering as 4.5-point favorites and a total set at 148.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Let’s dive into my prediction and pick for Monday’s Second Round matchup, tipping off at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Notre Dame vs. Ohio State prediction
The Fighting Irish have been stacking wins lately, taking eight of its last nine into this matchup, and it starts with Hannah Hidalgo. The junior put together one of the best regular seasons in the country, averaging 25.2 PPG, third-best nationally, and she wasted no time carrying that into March. In the first round, she dropped 23 points, nine rebounds, and eight steals — yes, EIGHT — in a dominant win over Fairfield.
Notre Dame handled business in that one, with three players scoring 15+ points, and that’s been the theme. This isn’t a one-player show. Iyana Moore, Cassandre Prosper, and Hidalgo all average double figures, giving Notre Dame real scoring depth. Still, Hidalgo is the tone-setter, especially defensively. She led the country in steals this season and plays like it every possession, constantly turning defense into offense.
Ohio State, though, is a completely different challenge. Jaloni Cambridge is the headliner, and for good reason. She’s a walking bucket who can get downhill whenever she wants, averaging 22.8 PPG on the year and turning it up even more in Big Ten play. She’s also a legit threat from deep, shooting 45.7% from three in conference games, which makes her even tougher to guard. The Buckeyes took care of business in the first round, beating Howard 75-54 behind 21 points from Cambridge, with three other players adding double digits. They’ve got balance, they’ve got scoring, and they’re not going to be overwhelmed here.
And the best part? This turns into a guard battle between two players who already know each other well. Cambridge and Hidalgo were teammates on the USA U-17 national team back in 2022 , but there won’t be anything friendly about this one. It’s star vs. star, with a trip to Round 3 on the line!
Notre Dame vs. Ohio State pick
While both squads bring undeniable star power, Notre Dame’s momentum, paired with Hidalgo’s ability to completely wreck a game on the defensive end, is enough to push me toward the Fighting Irish.
Lean: Notre Dame ML
