SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio--#Yvette Hunter# scored a career-high, 34 points on Tuesday night, as the Falcons improved their home record to 6-0 on the season, with a 92-75 victory over Wilberforce. (Box)

The Falcons (12-7, 8-3 American Mideast Conference) scored the game's first nine points, and jumped ahead early with a combination of great defense and super shooting. Notre Dame held Wilberforce (4-16, 2-11) to just a pair of field goals over the first eight minutes of the game, while the Falcons shot 77.7% (7-for-9) from the floor during that stretch to take a commanding 22-8 lead.

Hunter had been held in check over her last two games, scoring just 11 points during that stretch. She dominated inside early on, scoring 11 points of her 19 first half points, over the first ten and a half minutes. Hunter's inside presence allowed the Falcons to succeed on the perimeter as well, as they buried their first four shots from beyond the arc.

The Bulldogs were faced with a 22-point deficit at the 6:19 mark, but knocked the deficit down to seven after they ended the half on a 20-4 run, to close the gap to 49-42. Wilberforce shot just 22.2 percent (2-for-9) from the floor over the first seven minutes, but they were able to find their shooting touch, and shot 50.0% (16-for-32) in the opening stanza. NDC shot well from the floor in the first half, burying 60.0% (18) of their 30 shots, but struggled from the free throw line, hitting at just a 53.3% (8-for-15) clip in the opening half.

Notre Dame forced a pair of turnovers on Wilberforce's first two possessions in the second half, and kept feeding Hunter down low. The Jamestown, N.Y., native, scored NDC's first six points in the second stanza. However, she committed her third foul of the contest at the 16:49 mark, and went to the bench for the next seven minutes.

The Blue & White finally maintained their lead with Hunter gone, but the Bulldogs remained close, until Notre Dame pulled away down the stretch, going on a 14-3 run over the game's final five minutes. The Falcons shot 57.4% (35-for-61) for the game, and hit 40.0% (6) of their 15 3-point shots. NDC also used a 43-32 rebounding edge to secure the victory.

“I thought we played a great game offensively tonight,” said Head Coach #Dick Deasy#. “Defensively, I thought we could have done a little better, but Wilberforce played a spirited game, and made things tough down the stretch. Our depth and conditioning kept us ahead, and I'm very pleased with the way we finished.”

For the Falcons, the victory was their fifth in their last six games. Hunter's 34 paced the Falcons, while #Kealy McNally# dumped in 19, and both #Tracy Payne# and #Lauren Macer# each added 11. Hunter's big night also included 10 rebounds, marking her fourth double-double of the season. Her 34 points, a career-high, broke her previous mark of 27, against Ursuline on Jan. 21 last season.

Keeahna Fontes paced the Bulldogs with 29 points, while Deidra Brown added 15 and Dai Tiara Brown contributed with 13.

The Blue & White are back in action at Murphy Gymnasium on Thursday night, when they welcome the Point Park Pioneers to town. Tip-off for the AMC tilt is scheduled for 6:00 pm.

NOTES FROM THE NEST:

HITTING ON ALL CYLINDERS AT HOME: The Falcons are 6-0 at home this season and have seven consecutive home tilts, dating back to the 2008-09 season. Their last loss at home was on Feb. 7, last year against Cedarville. The Falcons are shooting 47.3% (184-for-389) from the floor at home, compared to 36.5% (210-for-576) on the road.

JACKED FOR JANUARY: The Falcons are 6-2 in the month of January, after going 3-4 in December. The Falcons are shooting 73.4 percent (119-162) from the free throw line this month as well.

NDC ON STO: Notre Dame has reached an agreement with Classic Teleproductions to have their home basketball double header on Saturday, 2/13, broadcast on SportsTime Ohio (STO). The men's game against Northwestern Ohio will be aired on tape delay at 10:00 pm on 2/13 with the women's game following at midnight.

SERIES NOTES: Tuesday's contest was just the fourth in the all-time series. The Falcons are 2-2 against the Bulldogs, and 2-1 at home. Their meeting last year, was their first in eight years. The Falcons won that contest 79-64 in front of 293 fans at Murphy Gymnasium.

CASHING IN AT THE CHARITY STRIPE: Notre Dame is shooting 73.9 percent (292-for-395) from the free throw line this season, which ranks 12th in the nation, and third in the conference.