Storrs — The noise at sold-out Gampel Pavilion was thunderous, a prolonged “boo” for Notre Dame for the entirety of each offensive set, as 10,299 UConn fans celebrated a reunion of greats in attendance.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma wore a sport coat for the nationally televised game, with the Huskies being cheered on by former program greats Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart ... and even UConn great Sue Bird, who stopped by to join in the festivities.

Then Notre Dame freshman Hannah Hidalgo silenced the place all by herself.

“She’s a great guard, you know?” UConn freshman KK Arnold said of her opposition Saturday night in Hidalgo. “Just understanding the assignment the whole entire game, not letting her do what she did.

“And she did exactly what we wanted her not to do.”

Hidalgo finished with 34 points and No. 15 Notre Dame took the air out of Gampel Pavilion with an 82-67 victory over No. 8 UConn.

Aaliyah Edwards had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Paige Bueckers added 17 points for UConn (17-4), which had its 13-game winning streak snapped at the most inopportune time, with four national championship teams (2003, 2004, 2013, 2014) in town to be honored.

UConn’s easy 30-18 lead in the second quarter turned into a 44-35 Notre Dame lead at halftime as the Irish (15-4) found their stride.

It was the 54th meeting of the rivals, which first played on Jan. 18, 1996, and which have met eight times in NCAA tournament play, twice in the national championship game.

“We were searching all night for offensive identity. We didn’t have one tonight; we were searching all night for it,” Auriemma said. “We just kept grasping at straws, it felt like.”

“This is just an incredible performance from our team,” Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said. “Packed house with an amazing atmosphere, an incredible rivalry with a powerhouse — Connecticut, we have so much respect for them and coach Geno — but I’m just so proud of my team. To come out of this game with a win is just a dream.”

Hildalgo, who notched her third 30-point game of the season, established a career high Saturday, shooting 14-for-24 with three 3-point field goals, never coming off the court.

“Hannah is just relentless, she’s a relentless player,” Ivey said. “What I love about her most is her confidence. She comes out, she’s very fearless, she just loves to compete.”

Notre Dame, which also got a clutch 23 points from Maddy Westbeld, finished the first half with a 26-5 run to take the nine-point lead at the half, somewhat of a shock considering UConn’s 12-point lead with 7:49 remaining in the second quarter.

Hidalgo finished the half with 19 points, banking in a 3 at the buzzer to end the second quarter. Hildalgo’s first 3 of the game gave Notre Dame the lead back with 3:52 in the second, 35-32, which followed a UConn turnover.

Nika Muhl, the two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, left at the 1:11 mark of the first quarter after picking up two fouls and had just checked back in when she was whistled for an offensive foul with 4:06 to play in the second.

That led to the Irish retaking the lead. Notre Dame outscored the Huskies 12-3 for the remainder of the quarter.

Edwards had 12 points and five rebounds for the Huskies in the first half and the freshmen, Ashlynn Shade and Arnold, had eight points each.

UConn made up the nine-point deficit quickly in the third quarter, getting eight points from Edwards in the first 5:05 to tie the game at 50-all. Edwards next got an offensive rebound and kicked it to Arnold in the left corner for a 3-pointer and a three-point lead.

UConn led 57-54 on a layup by Shade assisted by Arnold before Notre Dame’s Westbeld finished the quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers for a 60-57 edge.

Muhl fouled out just 31 seconds into the fourth quarter.

UConn tied the game at 60-60 on two free throws by Bueckers and one by Brady, but Notre Dame followed with an 8-0 run, capped by a jump shot from Sonia Citron, to take the lead for good.

“I mean, it affected us a lot,” Edwards said of Muhl’s exit from the game. “I think that the energy we had left, it was really just drained. I think we were more out of sync than we started off with, so yeah, that was a tough one to swallow when she fouled out.

“On the defensive end, communication was a big factor in us not being successful and I think that possession after possession, we made the same mistake and we weren’t able to adjust or fix it.”

UConn next plays at Villanova on Wednesday.

v.fulkerson@theday.com