Notre Dame’s star point guard, Hannah Hidalgo, was benched for over four minutes during the second quarter of a recent game due to a nose ring violation. According to NCAA rules, head jewelry is not allowed during games, and despite wearing a diamond stud in her nose all season, Hidalgo was forced to comply during the Sweet 16 game against Oregon State.
Hidalgo expressed frustration at the situation, calling it “BS” and stating that the removal of her nose ring disrupted her game. She initially asked if she could cover it up but was ultimately told it had to be completely removed. Notre Dame’s coach, Niele Ivey, mentioned that the issue seemed to be a point of emphasis in the Sweet 16 with regards to jewelry, and wished they had known about it beforehand to avoid the disruption.
During the game, Hidalgo sat out for the first four-plus minutes of the second quarter while the training staff worked to remove her stud. She didn’t re-enter the game until there was less than six minutes left in the second quarter, and her performance suffered as a result. Hidalgo’s scoring was limited, with her making only two of her thirteen shots after the incident, tying her season lows in points and field goals.
Ivey acknowledged that the stoppage in play due to the nose ring incident was not helpful for the team’s flow and performance. Despite the setback, Notre Dame ultimately lost the game 70-65. The incident served as a reminder of
