Box Score SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Notre Dame College women's basketball team dropped a tough 77-68 decision to the visiting West Liberty Hilltoppers in a Mountain East Conference battle.
The Falcons (2-2, 0-1 MEC) fell behind 24-10 after the first quarter, and spent the majority of the game battling a deficit. NDC provided more offensive firepower in the second quarter, scoring 18 points, but again couldn't trim the Hilltoppers lead.
At halftime, the Falcons trailed the Hilltoppers, 45-28. NDC went into the locker room at halftime in need of a spark, and came out swinging in the second half.
Midway through the third quarter, a pair of
Martha Nagbe free throws cut the deficit to just 13, as NDC trailed 52-39. Two more free throws from
Ciara Reed later cut the deficit to just 55-45 with 2:41 remaining in the third as NDC started to chip away at the lead.
On the Falcons' next possession, Reed drained a 3-pointer with an assist from Nagbe to bring NDC within seven, 55-48. However, the Hilltoppers responded with a three of their own to push the lead back to 10, but Nagbe scored a lay-up to cut the deficit to single digits again. A late three from WLU, however, kept the Falcons trailing by 11 going into the fourth and final frame.
But the Falcons refused to simply roll over and quit. Seven seconds into the fourth quarter, Nagbe scored again to make the score 61-52. A fastbreak jumper from
Ciara Reed further cut into the WLU lead, making it a seven-point game, 61-54, and another basket from Nagbe brought the Falcons within five, 61-56, with 8:03 remaining in the ballgame.
Trailing by just five, the smallest deficit since the opening minutes of the game, the Falcons looked to stay hot from the floor. However, WLU responded with an 8-0 run to push the Hilltoppers' lead back to 13 points, 69-56, with 6:13 remaining in the game.
Lauren Langenderfer then made her impact on the game, hitting two free throws and making a jumper to cut the deficit to just nine, 69-60. Another free throw from Langenderfer cut the WLU lead to eight, but that's as close as the Falcons would come in the final minutes as they fell short to the Hilltoppers, 77-68.
With the loss, the Falcons fall to 2-2 on the season, including an 0-1 mark in MEC play. NDC will return to action on Monday, Nov. 23 against the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
