BALTIMORE, MD – The No. 7/8 Johns Hopkins women's basketball team opened the 2026-27 season in convincing fashion Saturday afternoon, rolling past Notre Dame of Maryland, 85-52, inside Goldfarb Gymnasium. The Blue Jays have now won their season opener in five consecutive seasons.
It took a few minutes for the Blue Jays to find their rhythm, but once they did, there was little doubt about the outcome. Hopkins trailed 7-4 early after opening the game 3-for-10 from the floor, before freshman
Marleigh Jackson sparked the turnaround. Jackson turned a defensive takeaway into a layup to give the Blue Jays an 8-7 advantage; one they would never relinquish.
That basket ignited a dominant close to the opening quarter, as Hopkins scored the final 13 points to take a 19-7 lead into the second. The defensive pressure continued to dictate the game, holding the Gators scoreless over the final four minutes of the period.
The Blue Jays carried that momentum into the second quarter, with
Faith Williamson helping fuel a 10-0 run over a 2:29 stretch.
Lauren Knudson capped the spurt with a three-pointer to push the advantage to 33-11, while
Layla Henderson continued to make her presence felt on both ends of the floor. Henderson's eighth point of the half helped send Hopkins into the break with a commanding 45-17 lead.
Hopkins showed no signs of letting up after the intermission, continuing to lean on its defensive intensity while finding contributions throughout the lineup. The Blue Jays limited Notre Dame to just 6-of-16 shooting in the third quarter, stretching their lead to as many as 39 points before taking a 68-31 advantage into the final period.
The margin continued to grow in the fourth, with
Quinn ODonnell knocking down a three-pointer to give Hopkins its largest lead of the afternoon at 83-41. The Blue Jays closed out the remaining minutes to secure the 33-point victory and open the season at 1-0.
Henderson led all Blue Jays with 14 points, shooting an efficient 5-of-7 from the floor, including a pair of three-pointers. She added a game-high 10 rebounds, two assists and a steal to record the double-double. Williamson (13) and Knudson (12) also reached double figures, while Hopkins showcased its depth with contributions up and down the lineup. All but two Blue Jays who saw action found the scoring column.
Defensively, the Blue Jays made their presence felt throughout the afternoon, with six players recording at least one steal. Knudson and Jackson paced the effort with two steals apiece.
Hopkins returns to action Tuesday, November 10, when it welcomes Randolph-Macon to Goldfarb Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.
Gallery: (11-7-2026) Women's Basketball vs. Notre Dame (MD)
