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The latest on Notre Dame women's basketball guard Hannah Hidalgo's ankle injury

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•about 8 hours•

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Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo
© Matt Cashore / USA TODAY NETWORK

It sounds like it’s just going to be a one-game absence for Notre Dame sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo. Fighting Irish head coach Niele Ivey confirmed with a small gathering of four local reporters Wednesday that Hidalgo is on track to suit up and play against Georgia Tech on Thursday night.

Hidalgo missed Sunday’s game at Clemson with a rolled ankle she suffered the previous Thursday at the end of Notre Dame’s game against Wake Forest. Without their superstar sophomore point guard, the Irish put up their lowest points total since losing to Utah on Nov. 30. They scored 67 points in that defeat, the same number they matched against the Tigers in a 67-58 victory.

Ivey said it best Wednesday — there is no replacing someone who averaged 25.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 3.7 assists per game. Even with someone like senior Olivia Miles, who averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 assists and 6.5 rebounds per game, running the point, the Notre Dame offense was inevitably going to suffer. And it did.

As for Hidalgo? Hardly suffering from her ailment. She’s on the mend.

“She’s getting into practice and feeling a lot better, so we’re happy about that,” Ivey said.

Hidalgo has been receiving treatment on her ankle two to three times per day, per Ivey, and the first few days after the onset of the injury to stay off her feet and rest. She’s returned to the floor with the hopes of being able to play against a Georgia Tech team that, despite losing its last two games, has a 15-2 overall record.

The Yellow Jackets are ranked 17th nationally and have ranked wins over No. 21 Oregon, No. 14 North Carolina and No. 23 Nebraska at the time of tipoff. Notre Dame, meanwhile, is seeking its fifth win over a team ranked at the time of tipoff. All four of the ranked teams that the Irish have taken down so far are currently ranked in the top 14 in the AP Poll; No. 4 USC, No. 6 UConn, No. 7 Texas and No. 14 North Carolina.

Notre Dame (14-2, 5-0 ACC) is ranked No. 3 in the country.

“This team is really fun to work with, and I’m grateful for where we are right now,” Ivey said. “As a coach, there are always areas I want to get better at. That’s what I’m trying to focus on. Just trying to help them stay focused and be present. We want to be present.

“We’re in a really great situaiton right now. We’re at home. We have two home games in the next four days, so really excited about that. Just trying to stay present and continue helping this group get better.”

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