NOTRE DAME, Ind. — There was no doubt about No. 2-ranked Notre Dame’s spot in the Preseason WNIT final Sunday after just five minutes of its semifinal game against visiting Hartford.

The Fighting Irish rolled out to a 50-20 halftime lead and never looked back in defeating the Hawks 98-43. Notre Dame will travel to Texas to face top-ranked Baylor Sunday in the title game.

Notre Dame (3-0) opened up an 18-point lead in the first 20 minutes play behind some hot shooting from the field.

Junior Skylar Diggins scorched the Hawks for 17 points, while seniors Natalie Novosel and Brittany Mallary chipped in with 16 and 12 points respectively as the Fighting Irish hit 64 percent of their shots from the field.

Notre Dame shot even better from beyond the 3-point arc as it was 6-of-9 (66.7 percent). Mallory was a perfect 4-of-4 in the opening half. Novosel hit both of her attempts.

Hartford (2-1) hit 3-of-5 3-pointers (60 percent), but managed just 8-of-18 from the field. The Hawks stayed close on the boards with the Fighting Irish (11-10), but turned the ball over 18 times compared to just six for Notre Dame.

The Hawks also had multiple shot clock violations against the Irish pressure defense.

Just as she did to start the game, Kayla McBride scored to open the second half. She would finished with 14 points.

Hartford tried to make a run at the Irish, but a 3-point play by Diggers pushed the lead back over 30 where it would remain the rest of the contest.

Despite several attempts by Hartford to cut into the Notre Dame lead, the Fighting Irish, who played its reserves liberally in the second half, finally pushed their advantage over the 40-point mark.

McBride’s short jumper with 6:16 remaining made it an 81-39 contest.

Notre Dame continued to roll over the final six minutes and threatened to hit the century mark, before coming up just short.

Diggins finished with a game-high 22 points with Novosel added 20.

The Fighting Irish finished the game 32-of-57 (56.1 percent) from the field and 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) from 3-point range. Notre Dame connected on 26-of-35 free throw attempts.

Not a single Hawk reached double digits. Daphne Elliott had nine points for Hartford and Ruthanne Doherty eight.

Hartford shot 39.5 percent from the field in the game, but 50 percent (5-of-10) beyond the arc. The Hawks were 4-of-18 from the free throw line. Hartford finished the night with 30 turnovers.