INDIANAPOLIS — Another day, another honor for Hannah Hidalgo.
On Tuesday, the rookie was named the USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week. It is her first time earning the award.
Hidalgo began the week by earning ACC Rookie of the Week and ACC Player of the Week honors. She was the first ACC player to earn both honors in the same week since Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson did it on Jan. 2. Hidalgo is just the second Irish player to sweep conference awards in the program’s history (Brianna Turner on Jan. 19, 2015).
Hidalgo was essential in a 110-52 drubbing of Northwestern in Notre Dame’s home opener last Wednesday. She had 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals. Hidalgo went 9-12 on the day and 2-3 from deep. She produced these results in just 27 minutes of play. On Saturday, Hidalgo helped the Irish down Illinois, 79-68, with 24 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals. She went 8-15 from the floor (53.5 percent).
On the whole, Hidalgo continues to lead the ACC in points per game (25.5), and she leads the nation in steals per game (6.8). Hidalgo has 27 steals through her first four games, the most by any Division I player in that time span in the last 25 years. Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey has compared Hidalgo’s defensive prowess to that of Skylar Diggins. Through her first four games at Notre Dame, Diggins had 9 steals. Hidalgo also ranks seventh in the conference in field goal percentage (52.9) and fourth in assists per game (5.5). She is leading all ACC freshmen in the latter category.
Hidalgo will get another chance to add to the record books on Tuesday, as Notre Dame hosts an 0-5 Chicago State team. The game can be streamed on ACCNX starting at 7 p.m.
About USBWA:
The 2023-24 season is the 68th year for the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, founded in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. The primary goal of the USBWA has remained constant since its inception: to serve the interests of journalists who cover college basketball. The USBWA annually selects a national player, coach and freshman of the year in college basketball and All-America teams for both men and women. The men’s player of the year award is named in honor of former Cincinnati and NBA legend Oscar Robertson, who was the first recipient of the USBWA award in 1959. The women’s award is named for UCLA legend Ann Meyers Drysdale. The USBWA’s men’s coach of the year award is named for the legendary college and Olympic coaching great Henry Iba while the freshman of the year awards honor the late Oklahoma All-American Wayman Tisdale and Tennessee great Tamika Catchings.
The USBWA awards scholarships to students pursuing careers in sports journalism and to the sons or daughters of current members. Past and present members are also inducted each year into the USBWA Hall of Fame, honoring those who have made significant contributions to the USBWA and to the sports journalism profession.
In addition, the USBWA presents Most Courageous Awards in honor of Perry Wallace and Pat Summitt to those in college basketball who demonstrate extraordinary courage. The USBWA also honors individuals in college basketball with the Katha Quinn Award for men and the Mary Jo Haverbeck Award for women for service to the media or for the inspiration they provide to those in the sports journalism profession.