WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – With an 84-69 victory at West Liberty on Tuesday evening the Notre Dame College women's basketball team improved to 6-0 on the year, tying the best start to a season in program history. But this year's Falcons start has been slightly more impressive than the 2007-08 team in that NDC has yet to play a home game this season.
 
Notre Dame not only got off to a hot start in its season, but also got off to a hot start against the Hilltoppers in the team's second conference win. In a tough series that was previously tied up with seven wins for each team, NDC had not won at West Liberty since 2016. The Falcons were determined to buck that trend and opened the game with a 28-point first quarter, the best opening 10 minutes for the team all season.
 
West Liberty also scored well in the first, but still fell short of the Falcons' output by seven points. With a 49-point first quarter, things slowed down in the second by comparison. Notre Dame still came out on top 12-10 to take a 40-31 lead into halftime.
 
NDC's defense held tough against one of the top-ranked offenses in the country, holding the Hilltoppers to just 26.3 percent shooting in the first half.
 
The third quarter was a back and forth between the two squads, but Notre Dame never let its lead slip below five points. West Liberty got it within five for a fourth time with just one second to play in quarter three, but the Falcons hit a three at the buzzer to bring their lead back up to eight.
 
Draining the shot from half court was senior guard Marisa Finazzo, who, in her first game back from an injury suffered last season, scored five points in five minutes, making both of her field goal attempts.
 
Notre Dame closed out the fourth quarter with a 23-16 advantage, giving the visitors a 15-point victory to take home for Thanksgiving.
 
"I feel like we are really starting to click," said head coach Lauren Macer. "Each game we have looked to what we can improve on, and we are steadily making those adjustments as the season goes on. Tonight, like all our games this season, was a true team win."
 
The Falcons were led in scoring by Seina Adachi and Katie Karalic who totaled 23 and 16 points, respectively. Joining the duo in double digits was Jen Oduho with 11. Jessie Stout led the team with nine rebounds while Adachi and Oduho each came down with seven. Stout also led NDC with three assists while Karalic had two steals.
 
Notre Dame will play its first home game next Wednesday, December 4, at 5:30 p.m. The Falcons will welcome reigning MEC Champions Glenville State.