ALBANY, N.Y. — Oregon State's big players were a significant factor and the Beavers managed to control Notre Dame star Hannah Hidalgo on Friday to progress to the program's first regional final in six years.
Timea Gardiner recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Raegan Beers contributed 18 points and 13 rebounds in the 70-65 victory against the second-seeded Irish.
Donovyn Hunter scored 11 points for the third-seeded Beavers (27-7), who will encounter overall top-seed South Carolina on Sunday. The Gamecocks narrowly won against Indiana 79-75 in Saturday’s second game.
Oregon State shot 60% from the field, while keeping Notre Dame to 36% and outrebounding the Irish 42-24.
“Throughout the spring, summer and this year, we came in with the mindset of realizing what we needed to achieve defensively to win those close games,” said Gardiner. “This year, our core group understands what it takes to win. It's really fun because we are obviously doing it.”
Sonia Citron scored 22 points and Maddy Westbeld added 19 points for Notre Dame, which suffered its first loss in 11 games and finishes the season at 28-7.
Hidalgo, who usually averages 22.9 points, was limited to just 10 points on 4-of-17 shooting, equaling her lowest score this season.
She also sat out for about four minutes at the start of the second quarter after referees instructed her to remove a stud from her nose, which is not allowed under NCAA rules.
“It's difficult because I was on a roll and having to sit out for five minutes due to a nose ring is unfair,” Hidalgo said.
NCAA women’s basketball Rule 1-25.7 states that no jewelry is allowed during games.
“No, obviously I didn’t know about the jewelry rule,” Hidalgo said. “But, I was told that I could cover it up. Then, she said you can’t cover it up after we were already in the second quarter.”
So Hidalgo sat at the end of the bench as the training staff urgently tried to remove the ring using tools.
Coach Niele Ivey mentioned that Hidalgo has been wearing a nose ring the entire season.
“I suppose it became a focal point in the Sweet 16 with jewelry,” Ivey said. “We just wish we had known beforehand. We can't control it, so we had to move on. But yes, interruptions to play are never ideal when you're aiming for a smooth flow.”
When Hidalgo returned, the Irish were trailing by two points. She re-entered the game with 5:51 left in the quarter and Notre Dame behind at 25-22.
Hidalgo didn’t score a field goal after coming back into the game until 57 seconds were left. She only made 4 of 17 shots.
Ivey and Hidalgo shared a lengthy embrace at the end of the third quarter when Hidalgo was substituted out. Hidalgo displayed strong emotions throughout the game.
“She advised me not to let my offense affect me,” Hidalgo said. “Just don't let it get to me because I am an emotional player trying to do my best, and she was just trying to motivate me.”
Oregon State was leading by a point at halftime, but started the second half with an 11-2 run, capped by a layup from Gardiner that forced an Irish timeout.
Notre Dame made a comeback, taking a 59-57 lead with just over four minutes left in the game after a pull-up jumper from Anna DeWolfe.
But a three-point shot from Donovan put Oregon State back in the lead for good.
Hidalgo's off-balance shot with a minute remaining made it 65-63, before Gardiner found Beers underneath with 26 seconds left to extend the lead to four.
Talia von Oelhoffen then blocked a three-point shot from Westbeld and made two free throws on the other end.
"I hear all the time, you guys got lucky because they missed shots," Oregon State coach Scott Rueck said. "I would tell you, well, they're shooting the shots we want them to shoot and they don't normally shoot."
Notre Dame has been using a six-player rotation since losing 6-foot-4 forward Kylee Watson, who tore an ACL in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.
Oregon State took advantage of their height difference early, passing the ball into the paint. The 6-2 Beers and 6-3 Gardiner combined for 14 of the Beaver's 17 first-quarter points.
The short-handed Irish also faced early foul trouble. DeWolfe picked up two in the first quarter and Westbeld had three by halftime.
BIG PICTURE
Oregon State: The Beavers have now held 14 opponents this season to at least 10 points below their season average. Notre Dame came into Friday's game averaging 79 points a game.
Notre Dame: The 10 points ties a season low for Hidalgo, who hit just two of her first 13 shots. But she also forced two 10-second backcourt violations on Oregon State and many of the Beavers 26 turnovers.
UP NEXT
Oregon State has advanced past the Sweet 16 just twice before, reaching the regional finals in 2018 and the 2016 Final Four.
