Box Score
FAIRMONT, W. Va. – The Notre Dame Falcons took off in the fourth quarter, securing a 75-64 victory over the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons, on Saturday afternoon.
With the victory, Notre Dame (11-12, 10-8 MEC) extends their win streak to four consecutive games, their longest streak of the season. NDC is now 8-2 after their overall record had fallen to 3-10, following a loss on Jan. 10. Fairmont State (14-10, 9-9 MEC) has their two-game win streak snapped after the loss. FSU has now lost both games to Notre Dame in the regular season.
After Amanda Ruffner opened up the scoring by hitting two free-throws to put Fairmont up, 2-0, NDC then put together a 10-2 run on the offensive run.
Kim Cook hit a three-pointer, assisted by
Jessie Stout, to give the Falcons a, 10-4 lead with 6:12 remaining in the first quarter.
However, FSU went back on top, 15-14, with 43-second left when Emily Puskarich hit her first triple of the game.
Notre Dame scored the first five points of the second quarter. They were able to retake the lead, 19-17, as
Kelsey Miller made a layup as she was fouled. She converted the free throw, at the 8:11-mark.
Over the next six minutes, the Fighting Falcons would put together a 15-3 run, going up, 32-22, with 2:06 to go in the first half.
Terrina Robinson responded for NDC by hitting a layup, off of a pass by
Kim Cook. These were the first points for Notre Dame in a little over three minutes.
Seina Adachi and Stout both hit jumpers for the Falcons, around the one-minute mark in the second quarter.
Kyleigh Ramlow capped the offensive surge by hitting a three-point basket, with 14-seconds left in the half, cutting the deficit to one point, 32-31, at the halftime break.
Fairmont State missed four shots, including two free throws, and had a turnover in the final two minutes. They shot 33-percent from the field and 20-percent from behind the three-point line. Makenzie White had 15 points and Puskarich added 10 points.
On the other side, Notre Dame shot 13-for-32 (41-percent) as a team, in the first half. Miller had 11 points and Cook added eight points and seven rebounds.
The third quarter was a battle as the score bounced back and forth between both teams. Fairmont State scored the first five points over the first three minutes of the second half, grabbing a 37-31 lead. This would be the largest lead for either team in the quarter.
NDC took their first lead of the quarter when Miller cashed in with two free throws at the 4:49-mark.
Over the final 4:30 of the quarter, the game saw five lead changes and five ties before the end of the third stanza. The game was tied at 45 heading into the fourth quarter.
Notre Dame came out on fire in the final quarter, and by the five-minute mark, Notre Dame had opened the quarter on a 18-6 run, taking a 63-51 lead over FSU. Miller had six points during this offensive onslaught.
Notre Dame did not let up and NDC was able to outscore the Fighting Falcons, 30-19 in the fourth quarter.
Notre Dame shot very well, as a team. They went 28-for-57 (49-percent) from the field, including 31-percent from three-point range. Notre Dame was able to outrebound Fairmont, 49-32. Miller gave the Falcons a season-high, 31 points, and also had 11 boards. Cook had 15 points, shooting 86-percent from the field, and grabbed 10 rebounds. Robinson scored 10 points. NDC had 44 points in the paint.
Fairmont State shot 33-percent from the field and 21-percent from behind the three-point line. As a team, FSU had only 13 assists. Ruffner finished with 26 points, White had 17 points and Puskarich added 11 points.
Notre Dame will come home to take on the University of Virginia-Wise Cavaliers at the Murphy Gymnasium on Feb. 16. Tipoff time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
