The Pocket-Picker’s Ball: Hidalgo Steals the Show
The Pocket-Picker’s Ball: Hidalgo Steals the Show (and Everything Else)
FORT WORTH — If you noticed your car keys, your dignity, or your favorite snacks went missing on Friday night, don't call the police—call Hannah Hidalgo.
In a 67-64 thriller that sent the sixth-seeded Fighting Irish to the Elite Eight, Hidalgo didn't just play basketball; she conducted a 40-minute masterclass in grand larceny. She finished with a triple-double that looks like a typo: 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 steals. She officially broke the NCAA single-season record for steals in the first quarter, probably while the Vanderbilt defenders were still trying to remember where they parked their buses.
The "I'm Not Human" Opening Act
The game featured the nation’s top two scoring machines, but for a while, it looked like the hoops had a lid on them. Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, the Division I scoring leader, started the game shooting 1-of-13.
“Starting the game, I guess, human. I miss shots,” Blakes said afterward.
Unfortunately for the Commodores, being "human" is a liability when you're facing a defensive buzzsaw. Vanderbilt coughed up a season-high 23 turnovers, mostly because Hidalgo was hovering around their ball-handlers like a fly at a summer BBQ.
The Leap of Faith
Despite trailing by 12, Vanderbilt clawed back thanks to a spectacular showing from freshman Aubrey Galvan (24 points), who hit a layup so acrobatic she literally flipped the ball over her head while looking the other way. It was the kind of shot that makes coaches either cheer or retire on the spot.
The finale was pure chaos. With 22 seconds left and the game tied, the 5-foot-6 Hidalgo channeled her inner NFL wide receiver. She soared between two defenders to snag a high-arching inbound pass and, before her sneakers even touched the hardwood, whipped a bounce pass to Cassandre Prosper for the go-ahead bucket.
Blakes had two chances to play hero, but she accidentally dribbled the ball off her own foot—a move she described as "moving too fast"—and then missed a desperation three at the buzzer.
By the Numbers:
193+ Steals: Hidalgo now owns the NCAA single-season record. She is currently one steal away from 200, a number usually reserved for career stats, not a single Tuesday in March.
35% Shooting: Vanderbilt’s offensive output, which had all the consistency of a frozen garden hose.
0-9: The Commodores' three-point shooting start. It turns out "The House Always Wins," and in Fort Worth, the House was painted Blue and Gold.
Next Up: It’s a date with the undefeated, defending champion UConn Huskies on Sunday. Notre Dame is going to need every bit of that Hidalgo "magic"—and maybe a few more stolen possessions—to pull off the upset of the century.
