Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Returning home for the first time since Dec. 20, the Notre Dame College women's basketball team defeated the visiting West Virginia State Yellow Jackets, 71-56. The Falcons were led by 17 points each from Martha Nagbe and Kelsey Miller, improving to 5-1 at home this season with the win.

After both sides found themselves tied at nine just four minutes in, Celine Mangan drained a 3-pointer to break the tie and give NDC the lead. A basket from Hope Thorbahn was followed by consecutive buckets from Miller, giving the Falcons an 18-11 lead with 13:44 left in the first half.

Scoring for both sides would come to a lull over the next six minutes, as the Falcons maintained a seven-point lead, 22-15, with 7:45 remaining in the half. The first half would continue to be a back-and-forth battle from there, and NDC went into halftime leading WVS by eight, 33-25.

In the second half, the Yellow Jackets were the first to strike as Autumn Ringen scored a lay-up. Nagbe responded for the Falcons, scoring a lay-up of her own.

Ringen then responded with a 3-pointer, cutting the Falcons' lead to five. On the ensuing NDC possession, Nagbe scored an easy isolation lay-up, and was fouled in the process. Nagbe made the free throw, completing the and-one, and pushed the lead back to eight, 38-30, with 17:35 remaining.

With 13:02 remaining, NDC led by seven after a Yellow Jackets lay-up. Mangan then hit another three for the Falcons, assisted by Molly Ritz, and NDC led 49-39.

That 3-pointer from Mangan would spark a 10-0 run by NDC, giving the Falcons a 56-39 lead with 9:38 remaining in the game. That run would essentially cement the win for the Falcons as they held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game. When the buzzer sounded, the final score was in favor of the Falcons, 71-56. 

Nagbe scored 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing three assists. Miller shot 7-of-11 while scoring 17 and grabbing five rebounds.

Mangan led the Falcons with six assists while scoring six points on two huge 3-pointers.

With the win, NDC improved to 8-6 on the season, including a 5-1 mark at Murphy Gymnasium. 

The Falcons will next play on Monday, Jan. 12 against the visiting Charleston Golden Eagles. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.