SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- In a game that marked a de facto battle for first place in the American Mideast Conference (AMC), Notre Dame defeated Ohio Dominican, 61-53, on Saturday at Murphy Gymnasium. Senior guard #Ashley Carney# scored 17 points and dished out nine assists in a hard-fought win for NDC.  (Box)

With the win, the Falcons run their AMC record to 5-0. The loss marked ODU's first in the league – they fall to 6-1.

The victory for Notre Dame (15-5, 5-0) marks their fifth straight, a season-best for #Dick Deasy#'s troops.

“This was a quality win for us, a big win,” said the Falcons' head coach. “We showed a lot of balance today, and we played hard.”

The balance for the Falcons was evident on the final box score – eight players scored in the game and all contributed to a solid defensive effort that held the Panthers (12-8, 6-1) to a 29.5 percent (18-for-61) shooting mark for the game.

After a slow start in which the two teams combined to go 1-of-8 from the floor and commit five turnovers, the Falcons and Panthers traded baskets to the 12:49-mark. Notre Dame then went on a 7-0 run to take a 13-6 lead.

The Falcons had another run, an 8-0 stretch, later in the half as they built an eventual 28-14 lead. Pressure defense and an effective fast break led to a 10-point lead (33-23) at the break, with NDC holding Ohio Dominican to just seven field goals in the opening stanza. The NDC offense was effective and well-balanced, with eight Falcons playing and scoring in the opening half.

In the second half, a pair of quick 3-pointers brought Ohio Dominican to within three at 34-31. At 11:53, NDC led by just two, 44-42. Starting at that point, the Falcons went on a decisive seven-minute, 10-2 run. The basket at the end of that run was a slashing lay-up by Ashley Carney at 4:13.

The two sides essentially exchanged baskets for the balance of play, and Notre Dame emerged with the eight-point win.

For the game, Notre Dame shot 42.9 percent (21-for-49) from the field. They outscored the Panthers, 34-16, in the paint.

Ohio Dominican shot 29.5 percent (18-for-61) from the field. The Panthers were led by Chelsea Rogers, who scored nine points and had nine rebounds.

Carney was the Falcons' only double-digit scorer in the game. Her nine assists came against just one turnover. Senior forward #Jamie Henry# added nine points and five boards. All eight players of a tight NDC rotation in the game garnered three or more rebounds.

Notre Dame's next contest is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 20, when the Falcons visit the Lady Cougars of Mount Vernon Nazarene University. MVNU figures to be another top-notch test for NDC; they came into the weekend with an overall record of 14-4. Tip-off in Mount Vernon, Ohio, is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST…

DOUBLE MAJOR (MILESTONES): Ashley Carney hit a pair of impressive career milestones in Saturday's game at Murphy Gymnasium. The senior co-captain and former Solon High School standout notched her 1,300th career point and her 400th career assist. In doing so, she becomes just the fifth NDC player to reach the 1,300-point mark and just the second to reach the 400-assist plateau. … Carney came into Saturday's game averaging 13.3 points and 5.2 assists per game. She is now within 32 points of fourth-place on the Falcons' all-time leading scorers' list.

A-OK IN THE AMC:  With Saturday's win, Notre Dame is now 8-0 in their last eight conference tilts. The Falcons last lost a league game on Feb. 15, 2008. Notre Dame has won 12 straight conference games at home.

BAKER'S DOZEN: With their win Saturday afternoon, Notre Dame is now 13-0 in their last 13 January games. … In the series with ODU, NDC is now 1-6 since 1998. Saturday's victory avenged a season-ending loss to the Panthers a year ago in the finals of the AMC Qualifying Tournament (Mar. 4, 2008).