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Newsstand: Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo named frontrunner for National Player of the Year

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•about 11 hours•

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hidalgo
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Hannah Hidalgo (3) celebrates after a basket in the first half against the Connecticut Huskies at the Purcell Pavilion. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Imagn Images)

On3’s Talia Goodman released her list of five frontrunners for women’s college basketball’s National Player of the Year award on Thursday, and Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo is No. 1.

In Goodman’s rankings, Hidalgo leads a tight race with UCLA center Lauren Betts. The sophomore sensation entered Thursday night averaging 26.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 4.1 steals per game, and she shot 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc.

“She’s had massive performances against No. 5 Texas, No. 6 UConn, No. 7 USC, No. 8 TCU and No. 14 North Carolina,” Goodman said. “Her versatility, intensity and high-level outings against top teams make her the current frontrunner for National Player of the Year honors.”

Hidalgo leads the No. 3 Irish, who sat at 20-2 after Thursday night’s win over Stanford. Her team-up in the backcourt with fellow superstar Olivia Miles (16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game) and additions such as gritty forward Liatu King (12.4 points, 10.9 rebounds per game) have elevated Notre Dame from a Sweet 16 team to one of the favorites to go to the Final Four.

Betts does the same for the No. 1 Bruins, who are undefeated at 22-0.

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Quote of the day

“It was amazing introduction to college football. You’re going into the most pressurized situation in college football. And it was new to everybody — the College Football Playoff going to 12 teams. And you’re thrust in it, not just as a spectator either. You’re in there to help your new team get better. You’re actively participating on scout team. And scout team is important. The better look the scout team gives, the better that team overall will be.”

— Ja’Warren Blair, father of Notre Dame freshman safety Ja’Don Blair, about the latter’s experience with the Irish as an early enrollee during the College Football Playoff

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