Hannah Hidalgo made a significant mark during March Madness, advancing further in the NCAA Tournament than in her previous two seasons at Notre Dame. However, her journey came to an end with a challenging matchup against UConn in the Elite Eight.
After a 70-52 defeat to the Huskies in the Fort Worth Regional final, Hidalgo expressed her aspirations for the upcoming season, emphasizing the motivation derived from their recent progress. “I think it gives us motivation,” she said, reflecting on the team”s prior Sweet 16 exits during her freshman and sophomore years.
Hidalgo acknowledged that next year”s roster will look quite different but highlighted the team”s newfound experience after reaching the Elite Eight. “We finally got over that hump,” she stated. “We know that the people coming in next year, they”re going to have to raise their level because we know what it feels like to get to the Elite Eight.” She compared this experience to their previous struggles in the Sweet 16.
In the match against UConn, Hidalgo was the only player from the sixth-seeded Irish to score in double figures, contributing 22 points along with 11 rebounds. Despite her efforts, the undefeated defending champions managed to counteract her impactful style of play. This was the first time in her NCAA Tournament career that Hidalgo recorded more turnovers than steals, finishing with five turnovers and three steals.
During the initial rounds of the tournament, Hidalgo achieved remarkable feats, becoming only the second player to record multiple games with at least eight steals. In a standout performance against Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16, she achieved a triple-double, scoring 31 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and recording 10 steals, setting a new NCAA single-season record for steals.
Her total of 202 steals this season made her the first player in Division I history to surpass 200 steals in a single season. Prior to facing the Huskies, she had already set the record for the most steals in a single tournament with 29.
“She is one of the best players in the country,” stated her backcourt teammate Vanessa de Jesus. “It just helped me grow, learning from her how to score, how to read defense; she”s just really inspirational. I can”t wait to see what”s next for her.”
Hidalgo”s impressive performance in the Sweet 16 showcased her skills as she faced national scoring leader Mikayla Blakes from Vanderbilt. In their matchup, Hidalgo excelled, showcasing her all-around abilities with a 31-point triple-double, which included her ten steals and seven assists, the last of which set up the winning shot in a crucial moment.
As Hidalgo prepares for her final season, she aims to build on her leadership skills. Head coach Niele Ivey noted, “I think she”s still going to continue to grow with her leadership. I think that was the biggest separator for her was her maturity. I think you”re going to see her being even more poised, more composure. We”re going to work on that this summer as far as continuing to build that trust with a brand new team.”
With her sights set on achieving greater heights, Hidalgo is determined to lead the Fighting Irish back to the Final Four, a feat they have not accomplished since 2019.
