Box Score
WHEELING, W.Va -- The Notre Dame College women's basketball team faced its biggest test to date this season, and fell just short on the road against the 24th-ranked and Mountain East Conference rival West Liberty Hilltoppers. The Falcons were led by 24 points from Martha Nagbe and 14 rebounds from Kelsey Miller, but a tight game ended in favor of WLU, 75-71.

The Falcons jumped out to an early 14-8 lead after Celine Mangan nailed a 3-pointer, assisted by Jessica Garcia. Later in the first half, Lauren Langenderfer made two free throws to tie the game at 28 with 3:58 left.

At halftime, the Falcons narrowly trailed the Hilltoppers, 35-32.

Just over four minutes into the second half, Nagbe hit a jumper to get NDC within one, 39-38. A back-and-forth battle ensued over the next six minutes, but the Falcons couldn't quite take the lead. The Hilltoppers pushed their lead to nine, 57-48, but again the Falcons battled back.

Molly Ritz hit a jumper to cut the deficit to seven. Two more Langenderfer free throws cut the deficit to five. A pair of Nagbe free throws cut the deficit to three, 57-54, with 7:14 remaining.

After a the Hilltoppers hit a three, Mangan matched that effort with a 3-pointer of her own. A huge block by Miller then gave the Falcons momentum again, and the Falcons eventually took a 61-60 lead.

WLU took the lead again, but Nagbe hit another jumper to keep NDC within three, 70-67, with 2:26 remaining. Despite a valiant effort by NDC, the Hilltoppers held on for a 75-71 win.

With the loss, the Falcons fall to 2-4 on the season, including a 1-2 mark in MEC play. The Falcons will return home on Saturday, Dec. 6 against the visiting Wheeling Jesuit University Cardinals. 

Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.