(Photo Courtesy of Michigan Women’s Basketball)

(Detroit) — The event was billed as the Shamrock Classic. It was hardly that as far as Notre Dame was concerned.

#14 Michigan used a stifling defense and balanced offense to throttle #18 Notre Dame, 93-54, here in the Motor City Saturday afternoon. The 39-point loss is the worst margin of defeat in the Niele Ivey era.

The Wolverines smothered Irish All-American Hannah Hidalgo, holding her to 12 points on 4-21 shooting, including 0-8 from 3-point range. Notre Dame was a meager 2-22 from three-point range.

Olivia Olson led four Wolverines in double figures with 20 points and six rebounds. The Maize and Blue crushed the Irish on the boards, outrebounding Notre Dame, 50-28, and outscoring the Irish in the paint, 50-26.

Michigan’s bench was also a key to victory, as the reserves shot 13-17 from the field and outscored the Irish reserves 38-2.

Michigan (3-0) opened the game on a 7-0 run and never trailed.  The Irish still only trailed by 11 with 2:32 left in the first half, but a 12-3 spurt to end the first half cracked the game wide open.

Cass Prosper led Notre Dame (3-1) with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Notre Dame plays host to #8 USC Friday night.