During Notre Dame women’s basketball’s Sweet 16 clash against Oregon State, guard Hannah Hidalgo faced a momentary setback when she had to exit the game to remove her nose stud.
Although her initial foul occurred just 0.8 seconds before the first-quarter buzzer, it wasn’t the reason she remained sidelined as the second quarter commenced.
Hidalgo found herself seated at the far end of the bench as multiple members of the training staff delicately wielded pliers-like instruments to remove her nose stud. Despite being a freshman, Hidalgo had sported the piercing throughout her standout debut season.
According to the NCAA 2023-24 women’s basketball rules book (Rule 1, Section 25, Article 7):
“Head decorations, head wear, helmets, and jewelry are illegal. Religious head wear is permitted provided it is securely fashioned to the head and is subject to the approval of the referee per Rule 2-5.1.”
Throughout the process, Hidalgo appeared visibly uncomfortable as the staff labored to remove the stud.
Fortunately, she managed to check back into the game with 5:51 remaining in the first half.
Hidalgo’s exceptional performance on the court speaks for itself, leading Notre Dame with impressive averages of 22.9 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 steals per game. Her remarkable talents earned her the prestigious title of first-team All-American.
Additionally, she clinched notable accolades including ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and ACC Tournament MVP.