SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – There was a specific game plan for the Notre Dame College women's basketball team (6-2, 3-0) going into the game against Wheeling Jesuit (1-5, 0-3) tonight. The Falcons executed their strategy to win 67-50.
 
By taking away the Cardinals ability to shoot outside, NDC was able come out on top defensively as the team held their opponents to just 28 percent shooting from the field.
 
"Wheeling is always a really strong team; they're very quick, they're not afraid to shoot the ball and shoot it deep so we wanted to focus in defensively," said senior forward Kim Cook. "It was big focus for us to take away their outside shot and force them to do something else."
 
WJU made just four of its 15 attempts from three-point range while shooting 16-of-56 from the field in total.
 
Notre Dame struggled shooting from beyond the arc as well after three back-to-back games of 14 or more threes, but the team adjusted better than their opponents. The Falcons looked inside and scored a season-high 38 points in the paint.
 
"Threes are definitely a big part of our game," Cook said. "When we realized we weren't hitting, we really tried to attack more and move the ball to get easy layups and get ourselves going.
 
"It was nice because we usually play bigger teams, but we had the size advantage tonight. We were able to get layups inside and then build off that scoring to figure out when our guards could attack and score for themselves."
 
Cook led the Falcons with 13 points while grabbing 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the year and fourth game with 10 or more boards.
 
"She knew going into this season that it was going to be one of her main responsibilities," said head coach Lauren Macer. "She has really taken that to heart. She knows if she can do her job well that we can be successful."
 
"Double-doubles are something I really pride myself in," Cook said. "I don't care if I score 20 points or 10 points, but I know my team needs me to rebound if we're going to win. It's always a good night when I get a double-double."
 
Macer said after the game that her team adjusted well throughout the competition as they were able to stick together and find other ways to get open even though their shooting from outside wasn't working as well as other nights.
 
"I was happy with the way we played through possessions, stuck together and played through adversity. I feel like they are really picking each other up and when I rotate players through we kept the communication going no matter who is on the court."
 
The first-year coach has led her team to a 6-2 start this year, which is the best opening since the 2010-11 season.
 
In the sixth win of the season for the Falcons Marisa Finazzo led the team with five assists while scoring 12 points. Cook also added four assists.
 
Notre Dame will finish its week at West Liberty on Saturday, December 2. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.