Controversy Arises as Referees Force Hannah Hidalgo to Remove Nose Stud During NCAA Tournament Game
Hannah Hidalgo, who has a tiny stud in her left nostril, has been picking pockets and dropping buckets throughout the season. She hasn’t been hindered or encountered any problems, and it’s hardly evident to the unaided eye. In other March Madness games, she even used it, although she covered it with a bandage.
Officials from Oregon State’s Sweet 16 match against Notre Dame, which took place on Friday, informed the Fighting Irish that they were required by the NCAA women’s basketball rules handbook to take it out. Headgear, jewelry, helmets, and head decorations are prohibited per the player equipment rule. Hidalgo did not play in the second quarter for four minutes and ten seconds, although he later returned to the team.
Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame, who was forced to take off her nose piercing during Oregon State’s defeat, blasted the referees. It didn’t seem like a big deal until the referees raised it to their attention; even then, it didn’t seem like a significant problem.
Hannah Hidalgo’s nose piercing may have truly affected her performance after Notre Dame lost to Oregon State 70-65 on Friday in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA tournament.
The rookie sensation of the Fighting Irish has a little stud in her left nostril, which she has worn over much of the season, including the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. However, referring to the guideline prohibiting jewelry, officials made her remove it during the first half of the game versus the Beavers.
We have no idea why they wanted to enforce it this time when a Band-Aid would have probably been plenty. Additionally, according to ESPN’s Elle Duncan, Hidalgo missed several minutes of the actual game—more than 17 minutes in real time—because she had to take it out.
It’s not a small amount of time, and Hidalgo criticized the referees’ call following Notre Dame’s defeat. Through ESPN:
Since I’m running and rolling, I felt it was nonsense, Hidalgo remarked. After having to wait out for so long after scoring two baskets, I was beginning to get cold. It seems to me that the officials were concerned about the wrong things. They ought to have officiated the match.
As ESPN also reported, Hidalgo claimed that an official informed her that she could keep the stud in as long as it was covered. However, following the first quarter, the official instructed her to remove the stud or not play.
Despite the fact that Oregon State has advanced to the Elite Eight and ended Notre Dame’s season, Hidalgo declared, “I’m going to play with it still until they tell me to take it out.”