SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Notre Dame College women's basketball team hosted (5-4, 4-1 MEC) Davis & Elkins College (1-7, 0-5 MEC) on Wednesday evening in an effort to stay perfect inside Murphy Gymnasium. The Falcons did just that behind another double-double performance from Tamia Ridley, as NDC soared in fourth quarter to beat D&E 61-48.
 
"Give all credit to Davis & Elkins they played us tough today." Stated head coach Imani Gordon, "They did everything they were suppose to do and we didn't come out and do everything we were supposed to do."
 
In the first quarter, Notre Dame hopped out to an 11-6 lead after a Nadia Jackson layup at the 6:35 mark. Davis & Elkins would claw the game back to even (17-17) at the quarter's end, as the Senator's Dream Cherry knocked down a jumper at the buzzer.
 
In the second quarter, NDC leapt out to 23-17 lead after a 6-0 run to begin the period. The two teams would exchange baskets for the remainder of the quarter as the defensive intensity also picked up. Only two total points were scored between the teams after the 2:29 mark. NDC won the quarter 14-11 and led the Senators by three points at the break (31-28).
 
In the second half, Amil Ali-Shakir netted the first basket to put the Falcons up by five, but the Senators quickly worked the game back to a one-point NDC advantage (33-32) with 7:17 left in the third. The two sides battled throughout the rest of the quarter as the game stayed between a one- and four-point Notre Dame lead until the final ten minutes to play.
 
The Falcons opened the fourth quarter with a 44-42 lead, but Cherry quickly tied the contest with the first bucket of the final stanza. Notre Dame would answer the bell by putting together a 17-4 run over the final 9:30 in the game to soar past Davis & Elkins 61-48. The win moves Notre Dame to a perfect 4-0 inside Murphy Gymnasium.
 
After the game Gordon had this to say, "We finished the game strong. We keep proving that we can win and overcome anything in close games."
 
Ridley generated another monster performance after posting a season-high 16 points and 15 rebounds on Saturday during the double overtime win over Concord. On this occasion, the Massillon, Ohio native turned in 12 points (8 in the final quarter) and a career-high 24 rebounds to tally her second straight double-double and third in total on the season. The senior's 24 rebounds are the second best total in Notre Dame program history for rebounds in one game. Ridley falls two boards shy of former All-American Joni DePiore's 26 rebound performance against Malone on Jan. 23 1997.
 
"Tamia was relentless on the boards tonight! 24 rebounds is tough to do!" Exclaimed Gordon, "She's been really focusing on it, and it is showing each game. I am proud of the way she is stepping up for us lately."
 
On offense, Alana Ellis contributed a team-high 16 points followed by Jen Oduho and the aforementioned Ridley with 12 points apiece. Notre Dame posted 26-60 shooting (43.3%) from the floor, 4 -14 (28.6%) from three and 5-10 (50.0%) from the charity stripe.
 
Ridley and company dominated the rebounding battle at 52-32, as the Senators won the turnover battle 17-8.
 
Notre Dame College will be back in action on Saturday Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. when the Falcons travel to play West Virginia Wesleyan College to face the Bobcats.