Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo Faces Setback in Sweet 16 Loss Due to Nose Piercing Issue

No. 2 seed Notre Dame faced a close 70-65 defeat against No. 3 Oregon State in the Sweet 16. The game was challenging for Notre Dame as their star player, Hannah Hidalgo, missed over four minutes of the game. During this time, the team staff had difficulty removing her nose piercing.

Hidalgo, a talented All-American freshman guard, had a strong start in the first quarter, scoring four points. However, she had to sit out for almost half of the second quarter. The team staff used pliers to try and remove her nose piercing, causing a delay in her return to the game.

Hidalgo shared with ESPN that one official initially allowed her to wear the nose piercing as long as it was covered, but another official later insisted that she remove it to continue playing the game.

She mentioned, "I made two baskets and then had to sit out for a long time, which made me feel cold." Hidalgo added that the trainers were unable to remove the piercing, resulting in her nose bleeding. She expressed her belief that the officials were focusing on the wrong things and should have concentrated on refereeing the game properly.

In the NCAA's case book, there are rules that clarify how players should follow regulations. It states that if a player is wearing jewelry during a game, they must take it off when there is a break in play. They cannot come back into the game until the jewelry is removed.

Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey mentioned that Hidalgo had been wearing a nose piercing throughout the season without any issues. CNN has reached out to the NCAA to get more clarity on this matter.

The Oregon State Beavers celebrate after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Oregon State Beavers celebrate after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Ivey mentioned that there was a focus on jewelry during the Sweet 16. She expressed that she wished they had been informed about it beforehand. Despite the unexpected situation, they had to continue and adapt. However, she pointed out that interruptions during the game can disrupt the flow and rhythm.

After the game, Oregon State coach Scott Rueck mentioned that he was unaware of the nose piercing incident until reporters brought it up to him.

Following her brief absence from the game, Hidalgo struggled with her shooting, missing her next 11 attempts before finally scoring another field goal in the fourth quarter.

However, despite this, she had an impressive freshman season. She finished the season with a remarkable 160 steals, setting a new program record, and scored a total of 790 points, which is the third highest in program history.

In the recent game on Friday, she scored 10 points to contribute to the team's success. Her teammate Sonia Citron led the team with an impressive 22 points.

However, Timea Gardiner scored 21 points, 11 rebounds and four assists for Oregon State, who next take to the court against South Carolina in the Elite Eight.

Editor's P/S:

The situation with Hannah Hidalgo's nose piercing during the Sweet 16 game between Notre Dame and Oregon State highlights the challenges that can arise when regulations clash with personal expression. While the NCAA's rules are clear, the enforcement of them can be subjective and inconsistent, leading to frustration and disruption in the game.

Hidalgo's case is particularly noteworthy as she had played throughout the season with the piercing without incident. The fact that it became an issue at such a critical moment raises questions about the priorities of the officials and the impact of overly strict enforcement on the flow and fairness of the game. It is important for the NCAA to review its policies and ensure that they are applied consistently and reasonably, allowing players to express themselves while maintaining a fair and competitive environment.