The Notre Dame Fighting Irish pulled off an important upset against the Ohio State Buckeyes, defeating them 83-73 to advance to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. One of the keys behind the victory was Hannah Hidalgo’s performance.
In 38 minutes of play, she recorded 26 points, 13 rebounds, and two assists. When asked in the aftermath of the game about the meaning of the victory for the Fighting Irish, she said the following about the state of Notre Dame’s season:
“People have been counting us out all Season, but we never counted ourselves out.”
Later on during the press conference, she was asked about being labeled a “villain” for her performances on the court while on the road:
“I’m not a villain. I try not to be the villain… These moments are great, to be able to play in front of big crowds like this. And it’s so much better, of course, playing in front of our fans because they feed us. But even playing in front of the Ohio State fans… We’ve come a long way from playing away”
She went on to say that one of the early-season struggles for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was playing at a high level on the road, and that she believes they have now shown they can shut out the noise during away games and perform.
Niele Ivey’s Proud Message to Her Players in the Aftermath of Ohio State’s Victory
In the aftermath of the victory over Ohio State, Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey couldn’t contain the gratitude she has for her players’ performances and the run they’re on. In a now viral video, she expressed her gratitude to her players:
“I have never been more proud of a group of young women like I am with this group; no one thought that this group was going to be here this year.”
She went on to speak about their performance and faith, saying “But that just tells you guys how this is written for us. This is nothing but God. All I can do is just pray. Pray. And he provided this incredible group of young women. Everybody has brought something that has enhanced our program. And you’ve given me so much joy. I have so much joy coaching you guys. I am so excited that I get a chance to do this with this group. You guys are amazing. You have found a way to pull everything that you have [together], all your talents and even more.
She went on to say that they had gone beyond their expected potential, and they now have the chance to stun the entire nation. Notre Dame next plays Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16 round on Friday.
Read More News:
Who’s In The Women’s Sweet 16? Here’s The List of Teams Advancing to The Next Round
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
