Preview: Pittsburgh Panthers at Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Interstat) — The Notre Dame women’s basketball team looks to continue its dominant non-conference play when it hosts Pittsburgh in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup Monday at Joyce Athletic Center. The Fightin’ Irish (9-2) enter on a four-game winning streak, having outscored opponents by an average of 43 points during that stretch. Their most recent outing was a 110-38 demolition of Bellarmine on Dec. 21, where guard Hannah Hidalgo posted a staggering 30 points and 10 assists in just 22 minutes. Hidalgo, averaging 23.6 points per game, has been the engine for Notre Dame’s high-powered offense, which averages 86.5 points. Pittsburgh (7-7) seeks consistency after a 69-84 loss at city rival Duquesne in its last game. The Panthers have struggled against high-major competition, with losses to Clemson, Mississippi State and Ball State. They will lean on guard Mikayla Johnson, who scored 23 points in 40 minutes against Duquesne and is averaging 14.2 points per game. Notre Dame’s defense, allowing just 57.5 points per game, will aim to contain Johnson and force Pittsburgh into a faster tempo than it prefers. The Panthers average 65.6 points and have been held under 45 points twice this season. This game opens the ACC schedule for both teams. Pittsburgh begins a challenging league slate, while Notre Dame looks to establish itself as a conference title contender. The Irish have won the last 11 meetings in the series, with Pittsburgh’s last victory coming in 2013. The game tips off at 7 p.m. EST Monday. Notre Dame hits the road next to face Georgia Tech on Jan. 1, while Pittsburgh hosts Wake Forest the same day.