NCAA Women’s Tournament Showdown: Jaloni Cambridge and Hannah Hidalgo Face Off in High-Stakes Clash
Columbus, Ohio — A highly anticipated NCAA Women’s Tournament matchup on Monday will pit two of college basketball’s brightest stars against each other, as Jaloni Cambridge of Ohio State squares off against Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame. The two guards, who once shared the court as teammates on the USA Basketball Under-17 national team in 2022, will now lead their respective programs in a battle for a coveted Sweet 16 spot.
Third-seeded Ohio State (27-7) will host sixth-seeded Notre Dame (23-10) in a game that promises to be a thrilling display of talent, strategy, and determination. Both Cambridge and Hidalgo were recently named to the AP All-America second team, underscoring their impact on the court this season.
Jaloni Cambridge, a sophomore guard, has been a scoring machine for the Buckeyes, leading the Big Ten with 22.7 points per game and ranking eighth in Division I. Her explosive speed and ability to create plays have made her a formidable opponent all season. In Ohio State’s 75-54 victory over Howard on Saturday, Cambridge dropped 21 points, showcasing her ability to rise to the occasion.
On the other side, Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame’s star junior guard and two-time ACC Player of the Year, has been nothing short of spectacular. She leads the nation in steals with 181 and ranks third in scoring, averaging 25.2 points per game. In Notre Dame’s dominant 79-60 win over Fairfield, Hidalgo delivered a stat-stuffing performance with 23 points, nine rebounds, eight steals, and six assists. Her eight steals in that game set a new single-game NCAA Tournament record for Notre Dame, surpassing the previous mark of seven shared by her coach, Niele Ivey.
The mutual respect between the two guards is evident. “She can do everything, especially on the defensive end. She’s a two-way player, so I really look up to her and how she carries herself,” Cambridge said of Hidalgo. Meanwhile, Hidalgo reflected on their time as teammates, recalling Cambridge’s signature speed. “I thought I was the fastest one in the camp, and she beat me by a mile,” she joked.
Beyond the individual matchup, this game carries deeper connections. Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff and Notre Dame’s Niele Ivey share a long history. McGuff was an assistant coach at Notre Dame when Ivey was a player, and the duo helped the Fighting Irish win their first NCAA championship in 2001. Ivey later began her coaching career on McGuff’s staff at Xavier.
The personal ties extend further, as McGuff’s wife, Letitia Bowen, played and coached at Notre Dame and remains close with Ivey, who is the godmother to one of McGuff’s daughters. Despite their friendship, both coaches made it clear that Monday’s game is all business. “I’m not friends with him tomorrow. He knows that,” Ivey said with a smile.
For Ohio State, this matchup represents a chance to break a frustrating trend. The Buckeyes have fallen in the second round of the tournament in each of the past two years, despite hosting both games. They’ll look to capitalize on their home-court advantage and secure their first Sweet 16 berth since 2022.
Notre Dame, meanwhile, is no stranger to deep tournament runs. The Fighting Irish have reached the Sweet 16 in their last 14 appearances but face a tougher road this year without hosting the opening rounds.
The game could also hinge on the battle in the paint. Ohio State’s sophomore Elsa Lemmila, who led the Big Ten in blocked shots, and forward Kylee Kitts, who has steadily improved since returning from a midseason shoulder injury, could give the Buckeyes an edge in the trenches.
As the clock ticks down to tip-off, all eyes will be on Cambridge and Hidalgo—two elite guards with storied histories and bright futures. Their clash promises to be a highlight of this year’s NCAA Women’s Tournament, with both players determined to lead their teams one step closer to championship glory.
— Reported by Nexio News
