CHARLOTTE, N.C. — She’s continuing to creep ever-closer to the top.
On Monday, Irish freshman Hannah Hidalgo was named ACC Rookie of the Week for the ninth time this season. Hidalgo is now tied for the second-most ACC Rookie of the Week honors all-time with Wake Forest’s Tracy Connor and Duke’s Elizabeth Williams. Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson set the record of 10 last season.
In total last week, Hidalgo averaged 28.5 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in two games against ranked opponents — No. 22 Syracuse and No. 8 UConn. But it was the latter game that really drew eyeballs, as Hidalgo posted a record-breaking 34 points and added 10 rebounds and 6 assists. That is Notre Dame’s single-game freshman scoring record, and the previous mark of 33 was held by Michelle Marciniak and set in 1991.
Hidalgo leads the nation in steals per game (5.1) and steals (97) this season, and she has already broken Skylar Diggins’ freshman record of 90. She is also pacing the ACC with 24.4 points per game and ranks third in the conference with 5.6 assists per game. Hidalgo is one of two major conference players in the nation averaging at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. The other is reigning National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark.
As we approach the postseason, Hidalgo continues to add to an already impressive list of individual accolades. On Monday, she was also named Naismith Women’s College Basketball Player of the Week. She has also been named the ACC Player of the Week twice, the AP National Player of the Week once and the USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week honors twice. She is also one of 10 finalists for the Nancy Lieberman Award (nation’s top point guard) and made the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List.