SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – A 19-6 second quarter pushed the Notre Dame College women's basketball team past Shepherd in its 15th win of the season. With seven regular season games left to play the 15-7 (11-4 MEC) Falcons have already tied their win number from a year ago.
 
The Rams came out strong in the first quarter as they led 22-19 after the first 10 minutes. In the second quarter, NDC matched its offensive output from the first quarter, but held its opponent to just three baskets.
 
Normally when the Falcons have a strong defensive stretch, it's their knack for creating turnovers, but Thursday night it was just solid play that led them to go up 38-28 at the half. NDC didn't steal the ball once in the first half, but they also didn't let the Rams reach the free throw line.
 
"After the first quarter, the team realized we needed to be better," said head coach Lauren Macer. And we are better than how we opened up. We didn't adjust our strategy in the second quarter; we just focused on the little things. We did what we needed to do to be successful."
 
That 13-point swing in the second quarter was enough to lead Notre Dame to a 78-72 win as Shepherd outscored NDC in each of the other three quarters.
 
The Falcons made use of their inside game early against the Rams to set things up as 16 of their 19 points in the first quarter were scored in the paint. Overall, 32 points were scored in the paint.
 
Overall, the team scored 48 points on shots taken inside the three point mark as they were led by Katie Karalic and Kim Cook who combined for 28 points on 14-of-19 shooting in that range.
 
"Katie and Kim made strong moves and cuts tonight and were able to finish," Macer said. "They communicate well with their teammates and the team believes in them. They both read things well tonight and put themselves in the right position to score."
 
Cook led the team in both scoring (21 points) and rebounding (11) in her seventh double-double performance of the season. Marisa Finazzo, Seina Adachi and Karalic joined Cook as they each scored in the double digits. Finazzo led the team with five assists.
 
Notre Dame will travel to Fairmont State on Saturday, February 3, for a 2 p.m. tip.