One of the best freshmen in women’s college basketball is Notre Dame star and All-American Hannah Hidalgo. Despite her prestigious status, she was asked to remove her jewelry during Friday’s March Madness game.
Hidalgo was forced to remove her nose ring mid-game during a game between the No. 2 Fighting Irish and No. 3 Oregon State in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, which she wore throughout the season. He said he has been doing it for a long time.
During the competition, the Beavers defeated Hidalgo and the Irish 70-65, a game in which officials enforced a rule prohibiting players from wearing jewelry during games.
Hidalgo not only played in the ring all season, but he also played in the ring in Notre Dame’s first two games of the NCAA Tournament.
After the loss, Stargard said he was told he could wear the ring as long as it was covered.
However, at the end of the first quarter, Hidalgo was informed that he had to remove his nose ring or he would not be able to play.
“I thought it was BS because I was running and feeling good,” Hidalgo said. During the second quarter, he had to remove his ring because his trainers had trouble removing the accessory. According to ESPN. “I scored two baskets, but then I had to sit out for so long that it was starting to get cold. I think [the officials] I was worried about doing something wrong. They should have refused the match. ”
Hidalgo also said the trainer was unclear about how to remove the ring from her nose and that she bled a little during the awkward process.
“No, obviously I didn’t know the jewelry rules,” Hidalgo told The Associated Press. “But she told me she could cover it up. And she said she couldn’t hide it because we were already in the second quarter.”
He added that officials had not given any explanation for the decision to remove the ring during the match.
“I think jewelry was the emphasis in the Sweet 16,” Notre Dame head coach Neale Ivey said after the game. “I wish I had known beforehand. You can’t control it, so I had to move on.”
Hidalgo finished with 10 points on 4-of-17 field goals in the loss.
In his first collegiate season, Hidalgo averaged approximately 22.9 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, 5.6 assists per game, and led the nation in steals with 4.6 per game.
