Notre Dame women’s basketball star Hannah Hidalgo caused controversy during her team’s disappointing loss to Oregon State in the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
The problem was caused by the nose ring Hidalgo was wearing during the match. She was forced to miss several minutes in the second quarter after her team’s training staff tried to remove her.
NCAA Women’s Basketball Rule 1-25.7 states that no jewelry is allowed during the game. However, Hidalgo wore a nose ring throughout the season and in the first two games of the tournament.
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Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo reacts during the third quarter of the Sweet 16 game against Oregon State during the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Albany, New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altafer)
She also told ESPN that a source told her that nose rings can be worn as long as they are covered, but it became a bigger problem once the second quarter began.
“I thought it was BS because I was on the run and doing well,” she said. “I made two baskets, but I was out of the game for so long that I started to get chills. I think (the umpires) were worried about doing the wrong thing. They should have denied the game.”
Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s Hannah Hidalgo, 3, speaks with head coach Neele Ivey during the second half of the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 against the Oregon State Beavers at MVP Arena in New York, March 29, 2024. Albany, state) (Sarah Steer/Getty Images)
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Notre Dame coach Neale Ivey said she wished she had been told about the nose ring issue before the game started.
Hidalgo had one of his worst shooting performances all season, finishing with 10 points.
Oregon State won the game 70-65.
“We all went into the spring, summer and into this year with the mindset of understanding what we need to accomplish defensively to win close games,” Beavers star Timea Gardiner said. he said.
“So this year, that core group, we know what we need right now. We’re obviously doing that, so it’s a lot of fun.”
Timea Gardiner, 30, of the Oregon State Beavers defeats the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York on March 29, 2024. be happy. (Greg Fiume/NCAA Photo, Getty Images)
Gardiner had 21 points and 11 rebounds.
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This will be the third time in its history that Oregon State will play in the Elite Eight.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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