INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The Notre Dame College women's basketball team (0-1) began their 2021-22 campaign on the road at the Conference Challenge, hosted by West Virginia State. On Saturday evening, NDC faced off against Slippery Rock University (1-0) in a game that was heavily contested in the first half. SRU would pull away in the second half to come away with the victory, 84-66.
 
In the first quarter, the two sides exchanged 9-0 runs of their own as they battled to a 17-16 Slippery Rock lead. Alana Ellis led all scorers in the quarter with seven points.
 
The two teams would again exchange a back and forth start to the quarter until The Rock ended the half on a 12-4 run, to lead NDC 41-33 through 20 minutes. Ellis posted 11 more points in the second stanza to total 18 points at the half, the most out of any player.
 
The second half, Slippery Rock would immediately push their lead to double digits and never relinquish it. The SRU lead swelled to 21 points at its peak in the third, with SRU leading NDC 69-51 after three quarters. The difference maker in the game was the second and third quarters where Notre Dame was outscored 24-15 and 28-18. Notre Dame would go on to play Slippery Rock even in the final period, with both sides scoring 15.
 
Jen Oduho would put forth a valiant second half effort and totaled a game-high 32 points, including 24 in the final 20 minutes. Oduho's 32 points marks a new career-high for the forward. Ellis added a career-high 23 points of her own, as Oduho and Ellis were the bright spots for the Falcons on offense.
 
Tamia Ridley generated a team-high eight rebounds, followed by six other Falcons to record rebounds as NDC grabbed 34 as a team. The Rock countered by snagging 49 rebounds of their own.
 
The Notre Dame College women's basketball team will be back in action tomorrow (Sunday) Nov. 14 at 1 PM to take on Fayetteville State University in the Falcons final contest of the Conference Challenge this weekend.