SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – With 2.8 seconds remaining and the Falcons down three (61-58), an inbounds pass by junior Lizzie Imrie found redshirt sophomore Alana Ellis in the corner, the Twinsburg, Ohio native turned and drained the game-tying three-point basket before time expired. Notre Dame (3-7, 2-4 MEC) would carry the momentum from Ellis' basket into overtime, before defeating West Virginia Wesleyan College (1-6, 0-6 MEC) in come-from-behind fashion, 75-65 Saturday afternoon.
 
"It was great team win," mentioned head coach Imani Gordon. "We needed everybody who stepped on the floor, everybody gave great minutes."
 
In the first quarter, WVWC jumped out to a 19-11 lead after some hot shooting from behind the arc. NDC was able to trim the Bobcat lead to 19-13 at the end of the period, following a pair of Imrie free throws. The Nordonia High School product went 6-6 from the charity stripe, marking a new career-high.
 
The Falcons trailed 30-27 at the break, after a low-scoring back-and-forth second quarter. NDC claimed the frame 14-11 as junior Nadia Jackson closed out the first half with a crafty layup.
 
The Bobcats came out of the half well, by reestablishing a seven-point advantage (38-31) at the 6:03 mark. However, with 2:27 to go in the third, Imrie sank a pair of free throws, giving Notre Dame their first lead of the game at 39-38. WVWC would hold a 43-41 lead with 10 minutes to play.
 
In the fourth quarter, NDC posted a quick 51-48 lead after sophomore Karli Anker's three-pointer was true at the 5:53 mark. Next, WVWC jumped back in front following an 8-0 run, 56-51 with 3:11 left in regulation. With 30 seconds left to play, Ellis tied the contest at 58-58 as the Bobcats then held ball for the final shot.
 
Despite allowing a layup and free throw (61-58) to WV Wesleyan with 2.8 seconds remaining, Notre Dame knew the contest was not over. After calling timeout to advance the ball into the frontcourt, Gordon turned to her leading scorer in Ellis. As a result, on the inbounds pass, Imrie found Ellis who had a defender right in front of her. The Twinsburg High School product was unfazed by the Bobcat defense as she turned and buried the game-tying three-point field goal before the clock expired, sending the contest into overtime at 61-61.
 
The overtime period was dominated by Notre Dame College who generated a 14-4 run during the five-minute frame. Jackson's free throw with 18 seconds remaining gave NDC their largest lead of the contest (10 points), as the Falcons went on to win the game 75-65.
 
"We've been talking about how we need to bounce back and gain our confidence back and I think we did that tonight," stated Gordon.
 
Notre Dame College was led offensively by Ellis' game-high and career-high 35 points on an efficient 14-26 from the field. Her 35 points are tied for the seventh-most points in a game in NDC program history, while her 14 field goals made are tied for the most in any contest in school history.
 
"Alana was huge tonight," said Gordon happily. "She was just letting it go and taking what the defense was giving her. She never shy's away when her name is called in big moments."
 
Freshman Noel Weathers chipped in a career-high 17 points, while hauling in a career-best 10 rebounds, marking the first double-double of her young career.
 
Jackson also tallied a career-high performance with seven boards, while notching a career-best four assists.
 
Imrie brought down seven rebounds as well, while dishing out a career-high six assists, tied for the most by an NDC Falcon this season. Moreover, the Northfield, Ohio native stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, two steals and two blocks, while drawing four charges in the game.
 
Joining Imrie on the defensive side of the ball was Weathers who swatted a career-high three Bobcat shots on the day. In addition, freshman Peyton Wells tied her career-high by grabbing three steals.
 
As a team, Notre Dame shot a season-best 27-61 (44.3%) from the field, 6-18 (33.3%) from three and 15-19 (78.9%) from the free throw line. In comparison, WVWC shot 25-65 (38.5%) from the floor, 8-18 (44.4%) from three and 7-12 (58.3%) from the charity stripe. The Falcons narrowly won the rebounding (40-39) and turnover battles (19-20).
 
The Notre Dame College women's basketball team will be back in action for an exhibition contest at the University of Akron on Thursday Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. Next, the Falcons will head to Florida to face the University of Tampa on Sunday Dec. 18 at 3 p.m.