ATHENS, W.Va. – After leading for the majority of the game, the Notre Dame College women's basketball team found itself down by four with 2:24 left to play. But the final two minutes would lead to a flurry of scoring and ultimately, a close victory for NDC.
 
Trailing 86-82 on their next offensive possession, the Falcons missed a three-pointer, but senior forward Kim Cook fought for the rebound, fell to the floor and called a timeout to give her team a second chance. Inbounding the ball, Marisa Finazzo found Kyleigh Ramlow for a midrange jumper to cut the lead to two points.
 
"Kim's rebound was important, as the game clock was winding down," head coach Lauren Macer said. "The players knew how important it was to make those last possessions count and that was a big play."
 
Back on defense, Seina Adachi forced a turnover, recording the first of four turnovers NDC would force in the last 100 seconds. In the fast break, Adachi would make a layup and draw the foul for a three-point play, putting her team up 87-86.
 
On the very next possession for Concord, it was Ciara Reed who stole the ball. The steal again would lead to an and-one, this time from Finazzo. 90-86. The Mountain Lions would convert on their next possession as Emily Boothe made a three to put it within one. 90-89.
 
Neither team found the basket on their next attempts and it was time for Concord to foul. With 22 seconds left, Finazzo went to the line to sink two. After a turnover from the Mountain Lions, Finazzo went back to make another pair. 94-89.
 
Andreanna Pool put CU back in it with a three-pointer to make it 94-92, and it was Adachi's turn to stay perfect at the free throw line. Pool made a layup with one second left after the free throws to make the final score a 96-94 win for the Falcons.
 
Between Adachi and Finazzo, Notre Dame made each of their eight free throws in the last two minutes. Overall, the team was 16-of-18 from the line during the competition. In the last four games, the Falcons have made 58 of their 68 attempts increasing the already strong confidence Macer had in her team.
 
"I believe in my players' ability to score from the line. It's something only they can control once they get there and they've done well all season."
 
Finazzo not only converted on those uncontested shots, but also made 10 of her 15 field goal attempts to lead the team with 28 points. The sophomore point guard scored a career high with 22 points in the second half alone.
 
"Marisa was aggressive in the second half," Macer said. "She made good decisions with the ball in her hand. She used her speed to get to the rim and shot well tonight."
 
Not to be outdone, Cook tied her career high with 22 points and added nine rebounds. Adachi and Ramlow also scored well with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
 
Finazzo also led the team with four assists and four steals.
 
With West Liberty falling 81-79 to West Virginia Wesleyan, NDC needs to win just one of its final three games to secure a second place finish in the Mountain East.
 
Notre Dame will play its final road game of the season on Saturday, February 17, at UVa-Wise. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.