FAIRMONT, W.VA. — The Notre Dame College Falcons women's basketball team fell to the Fairmont State University Falcons on Wednesday evening with a final score of 86-83. 

The two Falcon programs were neck and neck for the entire game, as the matchup featured seven lead changes, and six ties. Notre Dame started the second half with an eight-point advantage, but eight fouls and seven turnovers were enough to give Fairmont an edge, who finished the third shooting 52.9 percent from the field and they started the final quarter with a one-point advantage.

Notre Dame battled in the fourth quarter, holding the Fairmont lead to less than four after battling back for a tie score for the third time in the fourth quarter with 3:25 left to play. Amil Ali-Shakir drew two fouls, converting three of her four attempts to bring NDC within three. Jada Marone drew a foul, and converted both her shots at the charity stripe to cut the FSU lead to one with 1:19 left to play. They tied it up with 46 seconds left in the game, however three NDC fouls gave Fairmont State the advantage in the end.

Four Notre Dame starters  finished the game scoring double-figures. The squad was led by Jada Marone, who scored 23 points with a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe, and added six rebounds and two assists. Marina Adachi, Amil Ali-Shakir, and Theresa Parr all also added 13 points, and Parr finished with nine boards.

With the win, Fairmont State improves to 4-8, while this is just the third loss of the 2021 season for Notre Dame, putting them at 10-3 heading into the last three games of the season.

The road stretch for Notre Dame will continue as they next hit the court on Saturday, Feb. 24 for a 2 p.m. matchup at Wheeling University. 

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