INDIANAPOLIS — That’s four for the freshman.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced that Hannah Hidalgo is the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week. It is her second time earning the honor this year (Nov. 21), and it is her fourth award of the week (AP National Player of the Week, ACC Player of the Week and ACC Rookie of the Week). Hidalgo is also the only freshman to have earned the USBWA Freshman honors more than once this year.
Hidalgo had 26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 5 steals in an 84-47 win over Western Michigan on Dec. 21. It was the highest-scoring triple-double in program history and just the second ever notched by a true freshman (Marina Mabrey – 11/23/15). The point guard now has three performances this year with at least 25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals, two more than anyone else in the nation.
The freshman out of New Jersey continues to prove she is one of the best players — just not freshmen — in all of college basketball. She is pacing the ACC with 23.8 points per game, and she leads the nation in steals (6.0).