Hannah Hidalgo nose ring: Why NCAA officials asked Notre Dame star to remove jewelry mid-game vs. Oregon State

Edward Sutelan

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Hannah Hidalgo nose ring: Why NCAA officials asked Notre Dame star to remove jewelry mid-game vs. Oregon State image

Notre Dame women's basketball played its most important game of the season Friday in the NCAA Tournament. And for a crucial four minutes, the Irish were missing their best player.

The reason for her absence? The referees reportedly told Hannah Hidalgo to remove a diamond nose stud in the second quarter during the Sweet 16 game against No. 3 Oregon State, in accordance with an NCAA rule.

The requirement wound up costing Hidalgo four minutes of game time, as she was substituted out of the game at the start of the second quarter and did not return until the 5:51 mark.

While Hidalgo was out, Oregon State had an 8-7 scoring advantage and led 25-22 by the time Hidalgo returned to the contest. The Beavers and the Irish jostled back-and-forth. When the dust settled, though, it was Oregon State who walked out victorious, 70-65.

Hidalgo had worn the nose ring all season without having been asked to take it out, which was why it was surprising to many that the All-American guard was asked to have it removed during the game on Friday.

Why did she have to have it removed? Here's what you need to know.

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Why Hannah Hidalgo removed nose ring

Notre Dame's star freshman might have had the nose ring all season, but that doesn't mean it's been legal to wear it all year. 

NCAA rules prohibit any type of jewelry to be worn during the game, among a list of articles that are prohibited under Rule 1, Section 25, Article 7:

Head decorations, head wear, helmets, and jewelry are illegal. Religious head wear is permitted provided it is securely fashioned to the head and is subject to the approval of the referee per Rule 2-5.1.

If a player is found to be wearing jewelry during the contest, Rule 1, Section 25, Article 7 stipulates the following:

At the first dead ball, [the player] shall be required to remove the jewelry immediately or be required to leave the game and not return until removing the jewelry. [The player] cannot "buy" the right to wear the jewelry by being charged with a technical foul.

Further complicating the situation is NCAA Rule 2, Section 5, Article 1, which mandates that officials "inspect and approve all players' uniforms." The assumption would then be the nose ring would have been spotted before the game or that at some other point during the season, she would have been asked to remove it.

Players are permitted to wear plastic piercing retainers to prevent piercing wound from closing as long as referees deem the covering to be safe to opposition players.

Still, Hidalgo took issue with the referees' call, especially as it came in the middle of the game.

"I thought it was B.S., because I'm on a run, I'm on a roll," Hidalgo told ESPN after the game. "I scored two baskets and then having to sit out for all that time, I was starting to get cold. I think (the officials) were worried about the wrong things. They should have reffed the game."

Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey explained that the Irish were warned that jewelry would be a point of emphasis ahead of Friday's game. Nevertheless, Ivey didn't seem too pleased with the referee's assessment of Hidalgo's "infraction."

"She's had a nose ring the entire season," Ivey said. "I wish we'd known that earlier."

Hidalgo had perhaps the worst game of her glittering campaign, finishing with just 10 points on 4-of-17 shooting on the night.

Hannah Hidalgo stats

The true freshman has enjoyed a sensational campaign for the Irish, earning an All-American First-Team nod, winning ACC Tournament MVP, ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Defensive Player of the Year and being named a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist.

Here's a look at her numbers from her freshman season coming into the game:

  • 22.9 points per game.
  • 6.2 rebounds per game
  • 5.6 assists per game
  • 4.6 steals per game
  • 45.1 field-goal percentage
  • 34.7 3-point percentage
  • 77.4 free-throw percentage

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.