SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – An 80-58 victory gave the Notre Dame College women's basketball its 21st victory of the 2019-20 season, marking just the second time in the program's history the Falcons have finished with more than 20 wins.
The first season over 20, and the year that still holds the record, came in the 2017-18 campaign when the 2020 senior class were sophomores. The seniors, who were honored on Saturday, have a chance to eclipse their previous mark of 23 wins they earned as sophomores with four regular season games left to play before the MEC Tournament.
The home victory against Frostburg State started with a hot first quarter, as NDC outscored their guests 20-10. The Falcons kept things rolling in the second quarter, winning the 10 minutes of play 23-12 to take a 43-22 lead into halftime.
The Bobcats recovered in the third quarter, winning 24-18, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Notre Dame gathered itself for the final 10 minutes, winning 19-12 and taking a 22-point victory.
All six of the seniors scored, as they each were able to highlight what has made this class so special. After the game, head coach Lauren Macer praised her veterans for their leadership abilities and said she will be looking for more players with the strong character this class shares.
"I'm very happy," Macer said. "I'm happy with how they played, and happy that we were able to send them out with a win for Senior Night. They've been essential with a lot of our program's success, and they've built the foundation of our team's identity."
Not only were the seniors able to display their skills, but also the team as a whole showed why they have been so successful this season. The speed of the game fluctuated throughout, and through each speed up and slow down, the Falcons were able to play at a high level.
"I think it's a testament to the experience we have on our team, and our ability to play with different lineups," Macer said. "It's been fun to coach this team. We enjoy seeing their intelligence and understanding when they need to adjust."
Notre Dame was led in scoring by Seina Adachi and Jada Marone with 20 and 15 points, respectfully. Adachi and Jessie Stout let the team in rebounding as the senior duo gathered eight rebounds apiece.
Marone and Katie Karalic each recorded three assists while Adachi and Karalic each stole the ball multiple times.
Notre Dame returns to Murphy Gymnasium on Wednesday, February 19, for a battle for the No. 2 spot in the Mountain East Standings. The Falcons host Charleston at 5:30 p.m.
