SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Notre Dame Falcons dropped a big home loss on Saturday afternoon to rival Walsh in an American Mideast Conference match-up, losing 68-100. (Box)

The loss for the Falcons, (19-6, 9-2 AMC) breaks a five game winning streak and marks only their second loss in the AMC. Both conference losses have come at the hands of NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll members. Notre Dame dropped a 49-53 decision to then No. 12 Daemen, Jan. 15.

The victory for the No. 11 Cavilers (20-4, 11-1 AMC) was their 15th in a row, and marked only their second 100 point game against the Falcons in their 35 game history. Walsh defeated Notre Dame 101-83 in the 1991-92 season. Already making history with 14 consecutive wins, Walsh extended their winning streak to a record 15. After losing three of their last five to NDC, Walsh has now won three of the last four contests and holds an all-time edge in the series, 30-5 dating back to 1979. The win also keeps Walsh level with Daemen (N.Y.) for the top spot in the league.

The game began as all the hype would suggest of a defensive struggle when #Chelsea Andorka# took a charge by Jessie Miller of the Cavilers just five seconds into the contest. On the other end of the court, #Yvette Hunter# was called for the same infraction in the Falcons first possession. Notre Dame came into the game ranked 10th in the NAIA in scoring defense (58.8 points per game), Walsh the 22nd ranked team in scoring defense (59.8 points per game).

Walsh jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a 3-pointer by Jessie Miller before #Tracy Payne# answered drawing the score level for the first of five ties in the opening four and a half minutes.

After the Cavilers extended the lead to eight points (17-25) with 10:43 to play in the opening half, the Falcons responded with baskets by #Chelsea Andorka# and #Kealy McNally# trimming the deficit to four (21-25) with just over nine minutes left in the opening half.

Walsh opened a 42-32 lead with 3:11 remaining before Notre Dame went on a 10-5 run to close the half trailing 47-42.


In front of a raucous 428, Walsh exploded 53 second half points on the power of 57.1 percent (20-for-35) shooting in the second half.

The Cavaliers extended their lead to 16, (66-50) at the 11:37 mark, before the Falcons would cut the lead to 14 on two free throws by Andorka. That would be the closest the host team would get the rest of the way.

Leading by 30 points (95-65) with a minute remaining, the Cavaliers pressed for the 100 point mark as Maggie Berry attempted a 3-pointer. After Payne converted a pair of free-throws for the Falcons, Berry charged down the floor to put in Walsh's 98th point with 15 seconds remaining.

After a missed shot by Notre Dame, Amanda Bennett raced down the court dishing off to Mandi Swickard putting the exclamation point to a 32 point victory by Walsh, 100-68 as time expired.

The Cavilers held Notre Dame to 6-for-30 shooting including 1-for-11 from behind the arch in the final 20 minutes. The Falcons were only able to muster 26 second half points as the Blue & White fell at home for the first time all season in the AMC, losing 100-68.


#Tracy Payne# led the Falcons for the second consecutive game, scoring 17 points. #Kealy McNally# (13 points) and #Chelsea Andorka# (12 points) rounded out the Falcons in double figures. #Yvette Hunter# (8 points) had her 16 game streak of scoring in double figures snapped. Hunter had scored 10 or more points in every game since Nov. 27, 2010.

Walsh had six players in double figures led by Jessie Miller with 19 points.



NOTES FROM THE NEST….


COLD FEBRUARY: Since 2009, Notre Dame owns a .285 winning percentage (4-10) in the second month of the year. Last season, NDC went 2-5 in February games. This season the Falcons are 1-1.

PAST MEETS PRESENT: In the annual alumni game played at Murphy Gymnasium, Saturday Feb. 5, 13 alumni competed in a game that was decided in sudden death overtime, 68-70.

CONFERENCE SUPREMACY: Twelve conferences are represented on the Top 25 poll released Monday Jan. 31. The American Mideast Conference garners the second most teams receiving national rankings. Daemen (N.Y.) leads a trio of AMC squads, at No. 10. One place behind the AMC leaders, Walsh moved up to No. 11 and The Lady Jackets of Cedarville hold steady at No. 15 … The Lady Jackets, the 2009-10 regular-season AMC champions, finished last season as the No. 5 team in NAIA-II and were joined by Walsh in the NAIA National Tournament. For Walsh it marked their second trip to the dance.