Key Highlights
- Despite playing in Dallas, approximately 987 miles away from the Irish’s home in South Bend, most of those fans held up signs in support of Hannah Hidalgo. It was the junior’s 21st birthday, and many in attendance knew it.
- Hidalgo seemed to be inspired by her big day, dropping a 31-point, 11-steal double-double in what was her sixth such performance of the season. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementShe came one rebound shy of her second triple-double of the season.“Every time I step on the court, I’m grateful to play; and I don’t want to take this game for granted, so I go out and give it my all every time,” Hidalgo said. Hidalgo’s 11 steals marked the fourth time this season she has swiped 10 plus, and it boosts her nation-leading average to 5.6 per game.
- No other player averages more than five, and just one in Power-5 steals four-plus per game.“I think my mindset, always, when I’m pressuring the ball is to strike fear into the ballhandler’s eyes,” Hidalgo said.
- “Make them afraid to dribble the ball and make them want to give the ball up … It makes it a lot easier on my teammates lives when we don’t have to play in that halfcourt [offense].”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHidalgo felt that Notre Dame wasn’t playing its best basketball in the first half, despite holding a 10-point lead at the break.
- That said, the Mustangs did get out to a 5-0 lead to start the game and were outrebounding the Irish at halftime, an advantage they kept even in defeat. So, the Irish came out in the third quarter and went on a 19-4 run through the first five and a half minutes.