ASHLAND, Ohio - The score was 25-24 in favor of the Notre Dame College women's basketball team (1-2) after the first quarter, but No. 1 Ashland (3-0) took over the game in the second quarter and throughout the second half to win 108-71.

The NCAA Division II defending champions shot the ball well, making over 53 percent of their shots to win their 40th-straight game. Sophomore Jodi Johnson led the game with 31 points, making 12 of her 13 field goal attempts. 

Despite the outcome there were high points. The Falcons led Ashland by as many as seven points in the first period and were able to assist 21 of their 26 made shots. 

"Our team played hard and came out with a lot of energy," said head coach Lauren Macer. "We moved the ball early and worked to find the open person."

NDC also did well again in forcing turnovers as the team stole the ball 13 times. In their first two games, the Falcons averaged 15.5 steals per game and led the MEC heading into tonight's game. 

Where the Eagles out-matched Notre Dame was on the board, earning 51 rebounds compared to 29. Ashland scored 24 second-chance points with the use of its 19 offensive rebounds. 

"We struggled to box out and rotate on defense as the game went on," Macer said.

Another area where NDC has done well this season is at the free throw line. The Falcons lead the Mountain East with 79.7 percent shooting from the charity stripe after making nine of their 10 attempts at Ashland.

Seina Adachi led Notre Dame with 19 points while Kim Cook had 15 and Maggie King finished with 11. Cook led the team with seven rebounds while Marisa Finazzo had eight assists. Finazzo and King also recorded four steals each. 

Overall, first year head coach Lauren Macer was happy with how her team played, but know's they need to improve as conference play starts this weekend.

"I'm proud of the effort we showed tonight against one of the best teams in the country, but we need to keep building and learning," Macer said.

Notre Dame will travel to Ohio University for an exhibition game on Thursday, November 14, before hosting Concord on Saturday, November 16.