Hannah Hidalgo calls Mikayla Blakes 'Caitlin-type of level' scorer FORT WORTH, Texas — Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo described Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes as a scorer operating at a level comparable to Caitlin Clark, highlighting Blakes’ ability to score from all areas of the court. Ahead of their matchup in the Fort Worth 1 Regional semifinal, Hidalgo emphasized Blakes’ versatility during a pregame news conference. “The way she’s able to put the ball in the hoop, it’s like Caitlin-type of level,” Hidalgo said. “She can score on all three levels, whether that’s getting all the way to the basket, her midrange, or her three. Of course, that’s always tough to guard.” Blakes, who leads the nation in scoring with an average of 27 points per game, is on track for SEC Player of the Year honors. Hidalgo, ranked third nationally in scoring at 25.2 points per game, is a dual threat for Notre Dame, leading the nation in steals and earning ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year accolades. Both players have faced each other before, with Blakes recalling their high school rivalry in New Jersey, where Hidalgo’s team emerged victorious. “It was a show. Two dynamic guards. I had to guard her the whole game,” Hidalgo said. “I think just her ability to do what she does, the things that she brings to her team is so different.” The matchup between Blakes and Hidalgo is significant, as it marks their first college encounter. Despite media focus on their individual skills, both players downplayed the personal aspect. “It’s not about me versus Mikayla,” Hidalgo said. “It’s about Notre Dame versus Vanderbilt. It’s really just the way that we’re going to win the game tomorrow is by playing together like we’ve been doing the past couple of months.#hannah_hidalgo #notre_dame #caitlin_clark #mikayla_blakes #fort_worth_1_regional
Ohio State aims to end two years of women’s NCAA Tournament heartbreak at home COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State has struggled to capitalize on home-court advantage in its recent NCAA Tournament appearances, failing to advance past the second round in each of the past two years despite playing in the Schottenstein Center. The Buckeyes’ quest for a deeper run begins Saturday against No. 14 seed Howard, with the winner facing either No. 6 seed Notre Dame or 11th-seeded Fairfield on Monday in the Fort Worth 1 Regional. Coach Kevin McGuff emphasized the team’s focus on preparation and attention to detail as key factors for success. “Our attention to detail and focus on preparation have been as good as they’ve been in years. I think that’s what we’re going to have to hang our hat on this week,” he said. The Buckeyes, who finished 11th in the final Associated Press Top 25, have shown steady improvement this season after starting unranked. Ohio State’s recent tournament history includes a second-round loss to Duke in 2024 and a defeat to Tennessee in the round of 32 last year. The selection committee has not made things easier for the Buckeyes, with Notre Dame, a team with a strong tournament pedigree, set to face them in the regional. “The last home game (an 88-86 overtime loss to Maryland), we didn’t get to pull it out the way we wanted to. Hopefully, we get the next two opportunities to make it a good one and just go out and have fun,” said sophomore guard Jaloni Cambridge. The regional in Columbus also features standout guards, including Cambridge and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, both AP second-team All-Americans. Hidalgo, a two-time ACC Player of the Year, leads Division I in scoring with 25.2 points per game and ranks first in steals with 173. Cambridge, seventh in scoring at 22.#notre_dame #ohio_state #columbus #schottenstein_center #fort_worth_1_regional
