ALBANY, N.Y. –
Hannah Hidalgo said it was “BS” she had to sit out for more than four minutes while her nose piercing was removed and said it disrupted her game.
Notre Dame’s All-America point guard has worn a diamond stud in the left side of her nose all season. “Head decorations, head wear, helmets, and jewelry are illegal,” according to NCAA rules, but it hadn’t been an issue until Friday’s Sweet 16 game against Oregon State.
Hidalgo said one of the officials told her during warm-ups that she would need to take it out. She asked if she could cover it instead and said she was told that would be fine. At the end of the first quarter, however, Hidalgo said she was told it had to be removed.
“I think it’s BS,” Hidalgo told USA TODAY Sports after Notre Dame's 70-65 loss. “They should have just let me play with it if that’s what they said.”
Hidalgo was 2 of 4 in the first quarter. She was 2 of 13 the rest of the way, and her 10 points and four field goals tied her season lows.
“It’s big,” Hildalgo said. “I’m on a run, I’m feeling good. To not (play) those five minutes and sit cold."