Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Notre Dame Falcons shot 50-percent in the first half and took down the University of Virginia-Wise Cavaliers, 69-60, on Thursday night.
The Falcons (12-12, 11-8 MEC) have now won five in a row and are at the .500 mark for the first time this season. The Cavaliers (18-9, 13-6 MEC) are now just 5-5 since their six game winning streak was snapped by Wheeling Jesuit on Jan. 16.
The Falcons and Cavaliers battled in the first quarter and the largest lead was four points, held by the Falcons.
Kelsey Miller made a layup, which put Notre Dame up, 12-8, at the 4:57-mark.
NDC led 19-18 at the end of the first quarter as
Kyleigh Ramlow hit two free throws in the final seconds to give Notre Dame the lead.
With 8:49 left in the second quarter, Wise's Alle Moore hit a free throw to complete a three-point play and give the Cavs a 21-19 lead.
The two teams then went back-and-forth for the rest of the first half. NDC and UVA-Wise tied six times over the final eight and-a-half minutes of the second quarter. But the Cavaliers grabbed the lead, 34-33, going into halftime as Moore hit a free throw in the final second of the first half.
Jessie Stout and
Terrina Robinson both had eight points for the Falcons in the first half and Ramlow had seven points. NDC shot 14-for-28 (50-percent) from the field.
For Virginia-Wise, Moore had 14 points and six rebounds, while Makenzie Cluesman added nine points and five rebounds in the first half. UVA-Wise cleaned up the glass, outrebounding Notre Dame, 30-11.
The first four points of the second half came from Virginia-Wise, as the Cavs went up 38-33 with 8:40 remaining in the second half.
NDC went on an 8-0 run after falling behind, 41-37, following a free throw by the Cavaliers' Taylor Sandidge. Over nearly three minutes, the Falcons got contributions from Robinson,
Maggie King and Miller as they went up by four points, 45-41 with 1:55 to go in the third quarter.
Notre Dame was able to take a slim 49-47 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Falcons never trailed in the final quarter and continued to expand their lead. At the 7:36-mark, Kayla Mullins hit a free throw for the visitors, cutting the Cavaliers deficit to one point, 49-48. Notre Dame then responded with a 7-0 run, essentially putting the game away.
During the run,
Kim Cook and
Jessie Stout both hit layups and Stout hit a free throw following her successful layup attempt.
Seina Adachi made a jumper with 5:53 to go, putting the Falcons up, 56-48.
Marisa Finazzo, Adachi and
Erin Haislah made free throws in the final minute to close the game and grab the victory.
For Notre Dame, Stout led the way with 17 points while 7-for-12 (58-percent) from the floor. Robinson had 13 points and Miller added 12 points, five rebounds and five assists. NDC shot 24-for-55 (44-percent) from the field.
Sandidge led all scorers with her 20 points and she also had eight rebounds for UVA-Wise. Moore finished with 14 points and eight rebounds and went 6-for-6 at the free throw line. Cluesman finished with nine points and seven rebounds. Cluesman, Moore and Allison Ball all fouled out of the game.
The Falcons will stay home and take on Concord University on Feb. 18 in the Murphy Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
