Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Notre Dame Falcons defeated the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets, 78-76 on Wednesday night, as
Kelsey Miller tips in a buzzer-beater in front of the home crowd.
The Falcons (8-12, 7-8 MEC) are 4-1 over their last five contests. They are 6-3 in their last nine games, following a six-game losing streak. The Yellow Jackets (10-11, 8-7 MEC) are on a two-game losing streak and are 2-3 over their last five games.
Notre Dame took an early 10 point lead, 16-6, after
Seina Adachi knocked down a layup with 4:21 remaining in the first quarter. They went up by double-digits again, 19-9, with 3:48 left to play, when
Kyleigh Ramlow hit a three-pointer.
West Virginia State went on a 9-2 run to close the first quarter, cutting the Notre Dame's lead to three points, 21-18, at the end of the first stanza.
In the second, NDC opened the quarter strong, scoring the first six points, putting themselves up, 27-18.
The Yellow Jackets also finished the second quarter with a strong run. After falling behind, 37-26, West Virginia State went on another 9-2 run.
WV State's Jordan Miller hit a three-point basket with 10-seconds left to cut the deficit to four points, with Notre Dame leading at the half, 39-35.
The Falcons shot 16-for-35 (46-percent) from the field in the first half, while West Virginia State was shot 13-for-41 (32-percent) from the floor.
West Virginia State's Amiea Summers split a pair of free throws at the 3:38-mark in the third quarter to give the Jackets their first lead of the game, 46-45.
Notre Dame was the team that finished strong in the third, as they closed out the quarter on an 11-6 run, retaking the lead as they went into the final quarter, 56-51.
Notre Dame carried the success to the fourth quarter, where they led, 67-56 at the 6:56-mark. But then West Virginia State went on a 16-4 run, making the score, 72-71 in favor of State.
The two teams went back and forth in the final two minutes of the contest. West Virginia State took a 76-75 lead on a Shealyn Shafer layup with less than 30-seconds remaining in the game.
The Falcons'
Kelsey Miller was then fouled on the other end, as she went up for a layup. She made the first free throw but missed the second shot.
Terrina Robinson grabbed the rebound for the Falcons and NDC was able to work it inside to Miller, who missed her first layup attempt, but then tipped the ball back in, just before the horn sounded, winning the game for Notre Dame.
Three Falcons scored in double-digits. Miller had 24 points, nine rebounds and added six assists. Robinson had 16 points and 12 rebounds, while
Jessie Stout had 14 points. Notre Dame shot 9-for-14 (64-percent) from the field in the fourth quarter and shot 32-for-63 (51-percent) for the game.
The Yellow Jackets shot only 26-for-70 (37-percent) from the field, including 15-for-41 (37-percent) from three-point range. Sydney Bates and Aurreshae Hines both had 17 points, while Jasmine Davis added 16 points and Shafer had 10 points and grabbed 12 boards.
The Falcons will now travel to Charleston, West Virginia to take on the University of Charleston on Feb. 4. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
