Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame got 15 points from
Lauren Macer in a 80-62 victory over Salem International (W. Va.) on Thursday evening in Murphy Gymnasium.
With the home-court win, the Falcons (11-11) have now won nine straight games, the program's longest winning streak since Dec. 2-Jan. 4, 2004-05, when NDC rattled off 11 consecutive victories. Notre Dame has managed to even its record through 22 games despite going just 2-11through the first 13 games this season.
NDC is now 7-0 all-time against Salem (4-20), and that mark includes two Falcon wins this season. Notre Dame downed the Lady Tigers, 66-51, on Jan. 31 in Salem, W. Va.
The Falcons have now put themselves in position to go above .500 and have a winning record for the first time this season if they can win their second game of the season at Urbana next Tuesday.
The Falcons dominated the first-half, entering the locker room with a 47-22 lead after the first period. The opening stanza saw Notre Dame shoot a red-hot 54.3 percent (19-of-35) while hitting 5-of-8 shots (63 percent) behind the arc. The defense was equally as dominant, forcing Salem to commit 17 turnovers. The Lady Tigers could only muster 34.6 percent shooting (9-of-26) against NDC's defense.
Lauren Macer and
Molly Ritz each had 10 points after the first-half, while
Katie Stumphauzer chipped in 8.
NDC carried their first-half momentum into the second-half and all the way to their ninth consecutive victory. Notre Dame nearly got everyone involved in the win against Salem, with 13 players getting into the scoring column for the Falcons.
Macer again led the way for Notre Dame, scoring 15 points and adding 4 steals.
Molly Ritz just missed her third consecutive double-double, scoring 12 points and getting 9 boards.
Danielle Ledrich and
Katie Stumphauzer each tallied double-digit scoring totals with 10 apiece.
For the game, NDC shot 44 percent (28-of-64) and ended up forcing 27 turnovers.
The Lady Tigers were led by Porcha Davis who scored 17 points and pulled down 9 rebounds.
Notre Dame will look to run its streak into double digits on Feb. 19, when the Falcons visit Urbana (7 p.m. tip).
