TAMPA, Fla. – The Falcons flew South for the holiday season, playing the No. 9 ranked University of Tampa (10-0) in the first of two contests for the Notre Dame College women's basketball team (3-8) during their stay in Florida. On Sunday afternoon, the Falcons fell 87-58 to the Spartans.
 
UT jumped out to a 9-0 run to begin the contest, at the 7:42 mark. The Spartans controlled the period, to lead 27-11.
 
Notre Dame picked up their defensive intensity during the second quarter, holding Tampa to 5-14 (35.7%) from the field. The Spartans maintained a 16-point lead into halftime (40-24), as the Falcons battled, tying the frame at 13-13.
 
The third quarter went to UT, 24-10 as the Spartans led 63-34 with 10 minutes to play.
 
The Falcons found their groove in the fourth quarter by netting five three-pointers and scoring 24 points, matching their season-high for points in a quarter. Despite fighting for the entire 40 minutes, NDC fell 87-58 to No. 9 Tampa.
 
Redshirt sophomore Alana Ellis led Notre Dame with 17 points followed by senior Marina Adachi who scored 11 of her 13 points in final frame. In addition, freshman Mallory Hullinger chipped in a career-high nine points.
 
Ellis and freshman Cencere McDaniel paced the team with four rebounds apiece, as McDaniel ties a career-high.
 
Adachi and junior Nadia Jackson dished out a team-high three assists each.
 
Notre Dame shot 24-68 (35.3%) from the floor, 8-21 (38.1%) from three and 2-4 (50.0%) from the free throw line.
 
The Notre Dame College women's basketball team will be back in action tomorrow, Monday Dec. 19 at 12 p.m. The Falcons will travel to Melbourne, FL to face Florida Tech.