In South Bend, the stage was set for an exciting showdown as the No. 9 Notre Dame women's basketball team welcomed a significant lineup return. Hannah Hidalgo once again proved her mettle on that brightly lit stage. Liza Karlen, a 6-foot-2 Marquette graduate transfer, donned the Irish uniform (green, of course) for the first time during the regular season in the nationally televised showdown against No. 2 Connecticut.

Karlen's Injury and Recovery Journey

Last season, Karlen was a first-team all-Big East selection. However, she suffered a left ankle/foot injury during Notre Dame's exhibition game against Davenport on Oct. 30 and missed the first nine games. During her recovery, she often sported a boot. Thursday marked 43 days (over six weeks) since her injury. In the exhibition game, she scored six points with five rebounds and one assist in 14 minutes before limping off.After starting the exhibition game, Karlen was not among the five starters for the UConn game. But it didn't take long for her to make an impact. She was at the scorer's table less than three minutes into the first quarter. By the 6:16 mark, she was in the game, and at 5:36, she was in the box score with her first bucket.In her final season at Marquette, Karlen averaged 17.7 points and 7.9 rebounds. She earned Big East player of the week honors three times. In two games against Connecticut (both Marquette losses), she had 21 points and six rebounds in 31 minutes and 12 points and nine rebounds in 34 minutes.

The Impact of Karlen's Return

Having Karlen in uniform meant the Irish dressed a season-high nine players for their third matchup against a top-10 team. Notre Dame still remains without KK Bransford (leg), Kyle Watson (knee), and Maddy Westbeld (foot/ankle).The return of Karlen adds a new dimension to the Notre Dame team. Her experience and scoring ability will be crucial as they face tough opponents. Her presence on the court gives the team more options and depth. It shows the resilience of the team to have her back in action after a long recovery.

Looking Ahead

With Karlen back in the fold, the Notre Dame women's basketball team is looking to build on this momentum. They will continue to work hard in practice and prepare for upcoming games. The addition of Karlen gives them confidence and a belief that they can achieve great things this season. They will face challenges along the way, but with her on the team, they have a better chance of success.The No. 9 Notre Dame women's basketball team is ready to make their mark on the court with Karlen's return. Fans are excited to see what she and the team can achieve together.