WHEELING, W.Va. – Notre Dame College put some distance between themselves and Wheeling University in the third quarter, on Saturday, when the Falcons outscored the Cardinals, 23-9. NDC went on to win their fifth straight game with an 82-68 victory.

The program has started the season with a 5-0 record for the first time in their NCAA Division II history. The last time the women's basketball team had five wins on, or prior to, November 23 was the 2008-09 campaign. They started that year with a 5-1 record and won their fifth game on November 22.

Notre Dame struggled to get going on the offensive end in the first quarter. NDC senior Katie Karalic knocked down a jumper with 7:37 remaining in the quarter, making the score 6-4, in favor of WU. But, the Cardinals took advantage of the NDC shooting woes, going on a 12-4 run to push their lead to ten points, 18-8. During that run, which lasted over six minutes, Notre Dame missed nine shots and two free throws.

A late first quarter response run, put the Falcons right back into the game. Senior Seina Adachi started it with a three at the 1:29-mark. And in the final minute, senior Kyleigh Ramlow hit two free throws and a three pointer. NDC's defense held Wheeling without a point in the final 1:45 of the first, as the Cardinals clung to a 18-16 advantage.

With her made three pointer, Ramlow has 150 career three pointers, making her just the fifth player in program history to hit that mark.

The Falcons fell behind by eight points a couple times in the second quarter. Down by eight points, with 5:41 on the clock, senior Jessie Stout hit a layup, junior Jennifer Oduho knocked down a layup and Stout scored again. With just under four minutes to go, sophomore Jada Marone was fouled on her way to the basket and she tied the game at 26, with a pair of free throws.

About a minute-and-a-half later, Marone scored on a three-point attempt and, with a 30-28 advantage, the Falcons held their first lead since the 9:19-mark in the first quarter. NDC went to the locker room trailing, 37-35.

Wheeling shot just 19-percent (3-for-16) in the third quarter and the Falcons took advantage. In the final 5:12 of the third, Notre Dame went on a 14-4 run to grab a 58-46 lead. The Cardinals made three free throws and three shots in the third, with Lilly Ritz making two free throws and all three shots. She would finish with 19 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

NDC held a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but WU held steady and found a way to cut into the lead. With 3:31 to go in the game, the Cardinals trailed 70-64 after hitting back-to-back jumpers. Notre Dame took off again and closed out the game on a 12-4 run, winning by a score of 82-68.

Seina Adachi had 19 points, on 8-of-11 shooting, and four steals for NDC. Stout added 16 points, on 7-of-10 shooting, and six rebounds. Marone made three three pointers, after coming off the bench, for 16 points to go along with seven boards and five assists. The Falcons' bench had 25 points.

Notre Dame shot 63-percent in the second half and ended the game shooting 51-percent from the field and 46-percent from three point range. On the other side, Wheeling shot 35-percent from the floor, including 15-percent from three point land.

Notre Dame will travel to play West Liberty University on November 26. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.