WHEELING, W.Va. – A 12-point run to end the first half boosted the Notre Dame College women's basketball team to a 66-48 victory at Wheeling Jesuit to improve to 4-2 (2-1 MEC).
 
The first quarter got off to a slow start as the teams had a combined 10 points at the first media timeout, WJU leading 6-4. NDC would go on a 7-3 run to end the first and lead 11-9.
 
The teams would trade runs in the second quarter as the Cardinals got things started with a six-point advantage in the first seven minutes, taking a 24-20 lead with just over three minutes to go in the first half. Then the Falcons ended the second quarter on a 12-0 run to go into half time up 32-20.
 
Before NDC outscored Wheeling Jesuit by a dozen in the final three minutes, the Falcons saw a key player check into the game. Marisa Finazzo, who started 30 games at point guard a year ago, came into play for the first time this season after her suffering an injury in the Mountain East Conference Tournament last year.
 
Finazzo hit her first shot of the year, a three pointer that gave Notre Dame a 28-24 lead on their way out of the first half. Finazzo would play a total of 12 minutes and finished second on the team with 11 points as she made four of her five attempts.
 
"It was good to see her come in and play well," head coach Lauren Macer said. "She provides some energy and excitement within the team. She's been a leader off the court this year, but it's nice to see her back leading on the floor."
 
Notre Dame started to run away with the game with a 17-9 third quarter to make it 49-33. Ultimately, the Falcons won by their largest margin of the year at Wheeling Jesuit with a 14-point triumph.
 
The win is the first for Macer in Wheeling, W.Va., where the MEC Tournament will be held this season, and the second of her career in which her t eam held an opponent to under 50 points.
 
Defensively, Katie Karalic and Theresa Parr led the team as Karalic secured five steals and Parr tallied three steals and eight defensive rebounds.
 
Adachi led the team in scoring with 15 points while Kyleigh Ramlow recorded eight. Along with Parr, Abi Oriti came down with eight rebounds and was third on the team in scoring with seven points.
 
Notre Dame finishes November with two double-digit wins as the Falcons look forward to three conference and three non-conference contests in December.
 
"It's great to take positive energy into December knowing we are improving our game, but still motivated to keep working," Macer said.

The positive vibes were present throughout the game as 16 players hit the court for the Falcons, including Maggie King who also saw her first minutes of the season at WJU. Also returning from an injury, King rebounded one shot on defense in two minutes of action.
 
NDC will play its first home conference game against West Liberty on Sunday, December 2, at 2 p.m.