Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Notre Dame College women's basketball team improved to 6-1 at home this season with a 57-56 win over the Charleston Golden Eagles on Monday night at Murphy Gymnasium. The Falcons and Golden Eagles exchanged jabs throughout the contest, but NDC showed late-game poise and held on for the Mountain East Conference victory.

The visiting Golden Eagles scored the first bucket of the game, taking a 2-0 lead. That 2-0 lead would turn out to be the first and only lead Charleston had all game.

NDC responded with a 10-0 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Martha Nagbe and a basket from Hope Thorbahn. Holding a 10-2 lead, NDC pushed that lead to 21-14 following a pair of Jessica Garcia free throws with 6:06 in the first half.

The molasses-like pace of the game continued throughout the remainder of the first half, as did the narrow score, and the Falcons went into halftime leading by five, 27-22.

Over eight minutes into the second half, the scoring for both sides was slowed early on, but the Falcons still led by seven, 37-30. 

With 6:43 remaining in the game, Nagbe nailed a jumper to give NDC a 47-39 lead. 

However, the Golden Eagles responded with a mini 6-0 spurt, cutting the deficit to just two with 4:46 remaining and forcing a Falcons timeout. Out of the timeout, Langenderfer was fouled and sank two free throws to push the lead back to four, 49-45. 

The Golden Eagles hit a free throw, and a 3-pointer from Charleston's DeJanique Reddix tied the game at 49 with 2:30 remaining. On the ensuing Falcons possession, Celine Mangan nailed a clutch 3-pointer to give NDC the lead again, 52-49, with 2:07 remaining.

Nagbe stepped up defensively for the Falcons and turned a fast break steal into a pair of free throws, making NDC's lead 54-49 with 1:29 left in the game.  

However, the Golden Eagles weren't done yet. Charleston's LeAnne Ross made two free throws to make it a one-possession game, 54-51, with just 1:03 remaining.

Leading by three in the final minute of the game, the Falcons melted the clock down while searching for a much-needed bucket. With just 37 seconds remaining and the shot clock winding down, Nagbe dished a pass to Langenderfer who nailed a 3-pointer, igniting the crowd and giving NDC a 57-51 lead.

Charleston responded on its next possession with a pair of free throws, and then hit a three with just five seconds remaining to make it a one-point game.

However, it was too-little, too-late for the visitors as the Falcons held on for the 57-56 win at home. With the win, the Falcons improve to 9-6 overall, including a 5-4 mark in MEC play and a 6-1 at home.

The Falcons will next compete on Saturday, Jan. 27 at home against Glenville State College.

Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.