At No. 18, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo Shatters Record with Unprecedented Performance
Hannah Hidalgo's name etched itself into the NCAA record books in a resounding display of speed and agility. The 5-foot-6 junior stole her way to an unprecedented 16 steals in a single game, shattering the previous record held by Ticha Penicheiro since 1998. But what was equally impressive was Hidalgo's prolific scoring prowess, netting 44 points on 25 of 31 shots from the field.
The diminutive star wowed the crowd with her efficiency, sinking three out of six three-pointers and converting nine of eleven free throw attempts in just 28 minutes of playing time. Her nine rebounds and four assists further underscored her well-rounded game. However, what truly set Hidalgo apart was her ability to disrupt Akron's offense, with Notre Dame ultimately recording an NCAA-leading 30 steals that turned into a staggering 41 points.
Notre Dame's victory came at the expense of 38 turnovers by the Zips, which gave the Irish 20 opportunities to capitalize on the opponents' mistakes. The turning point in the game came midway through the second quarter when Hidalgo scored 28 points on an impressive 12-for-18 shooting stretch. Her team went on a tear, outscoring Akron 41-22 by the end of the second period.
As Notre Dame dominated the third quarter with a 9-point lead, it seemed all but certain that Hidalgo would seal her record-breaking performance. With five points in a 9-0 run in the final minutes, she secured an unforgettable 85-58 win over Akron. The Irish's thrilling victory has now catapulted them to a 3-0 start, while Akron remains at 0-3.
Despite their impressive win, Notre Dame saw a slight dip in their national ranking this week, falling three spots in the AP Top 25. However, with Hidalgo leading the charge, there is little doubt that the Irish will be back in contention for a top spot soon enough.
Hannah Hidalgo's name etched itself into the NCAA record books in a resounding display of speed and agility. The 5-foot-6 junior stole her way to an unprecedented 16 steals in a single game, shattering the previous record held by Ticha Penicheiro since 1998. But what was equally impressive was Hidalgo's prolific scoring prowess, netting 44 points on 25 of 31 shots from the field.
The diminutive star wowed the crowd with her efficiency, sinking three out of six three-pointers and converting nine of eleven free throw attempts in just 28 minutes of playing time. Her nine rebounds and four assists further underscored her well-rounded game. However, what truly set Hidalgo apart was her ability to disrupt Akron's offense, with Notre Dame ultimately recording an NCAA-leading 30 steals that turned into a staggering 41 points.
Notre Dame's victory came at the expense of 38 turnovers by the Zips, which gave the Irish 20 opportunities to capitalize on the opponents' mistakes. The turning point in the game came midway through the second quarter when Hidalgo scored 28 points on an impressive 12-for-18 shooting stretch. Her team went on a tear, outscoring Akron 41-22 by the end of the second period.
As Notre Dame dominated the third quarter with a 9-point lead, it seemed all but certain that Hidalgo would seal her record-breaking performance. With five points in a 9-0 run in the final minutes, she secured an unforgettable 85-58 win over Akron. The Irish's thrilling victory has now catapulted them to a 3-0 start, while Akron remains at 0-3.
Despite their impressive win, Notre Dame saw a slight dip in their national ranking this week, falling three spots in the AP Top 25. However, with Hidalgo leading the charge, there is little doubt that the Irish will be back in contention for a top spot soon enough.
She's literally unstoppable! I mean, I knew she was talented, but this is on another level. Her ability to disrupt the opposing team's offense is insane. And that record-breaking performance in the second quarter? 
But I still think Notre Dame has what it takes to dominate this season. They just need to keep their cool and stay focused.
And can we talk about those three-pointers? 
She's got range, folks! The way she wowed the crowd with 12-for-18 shooting stretch in the second quarter? Unforgettable.
. Don't get me wrong, she still had some sick shots and an all-around impressive game, but I'm not convinced it was as groundbreaking as everyone's making it out to be 
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! I mean, who needs to be 6'2" when you can steal the show like Hannah Hidalgo? 
She's got skills for days, and that record-breaking 16 steals? 
Not to mention her free throw accuracy? Unreal. The girl's a machine. 
that girl can move and score with the best of them. i'm not surprised they won 85-58 tho, she just outplayed everyone else 
and those 3 pointer shots from her were pure magic 
i mean, what's her secret? does she have some kind of ninja training or something? 
and can we talk about her scoring stats for a sec?! 44 points in like 28 minutes is insane! i was trying to calculate how many points per minute she averaged but my brain just couldn't handle it 
She's literally unstoppable on the court! 16 steals and 44 points? That's insane 
- Theodore Roosevelt 
OMG can u even?! 
- she's not just about scoring, but also getting those steals and playing solid D too 
. And 16 steals in a single game? Unbeatable 
️ just watched hannah hidalgo's game and i'm still reeling from that performance 
and those 44 points? insane! what really got me was how well-rounded her game is, not just a one-trick pony 
, scoring 28 points on 12-for-18 shooting. That's when I knew Notre Dame was gonna take it to Akron 
. 38 turnovers? Yeah, that gave Notre Dame plenty of opportunities to capitalize 
. And let's be real, their defense was on point 
, holding Akron to just 22 points in the second quarter 
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, and I think they'll bounce back from that slight dip in the rankings 
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she's killin it on the court but like did u know they dropped their ranking this week? 3 spots lower 
still though hannah hidalgo shatterin records left & right 16 steals in one game tho is insane 
I mean, 16 steals and 44 points is impressive, but what's really crazy is how poorly her team played defense on Akron 
I'm talking like they were giving away free baskets left and right. Like, if anyone could make those 38 turnovers hurt, it's Hidalgo 
44 points on 25 of 31 shots from the field, and 3/6 from three-point range? 
This is like the perfect combo of speed, agility and scoring prowess. She's taking over games left & right!