SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – As the regular season clock winds down, every win is crucial inside a bunched-up Mountain East Conference. After Saturday's slate of MEC action, just two games separated third place from seventh place with one week remaining before the MEC Tournament on Mar. 2.
 
On Saturday afternoon, Notre Dame College (13-12, 12-8 MEC) claimed a big-time win, 61-49 over visiting West Virginia State (17-8, 13-7 MEC). Senior Tamia Ridley enjoyed a career-high 19 points, while senior Theresa Parr stuffed the stat sheet with six points, 13 rebounds, four assists and nine steals. Parr's nine steals are a career best and tied for the second most steals in NDC program history.
 
"I want to say first things first, our seniors stepped up huge for us today, exclaimed head coach Imani Gordon. "Theresa had a big game for us in every aspect! Theresa was locked in and stepped up for us every time we needed a push! She played great defensively, and pursued every rebound."
 
In the first quarter, West Virginia State jumped out to a 15-6 advantage after the beginning 8:27 of the game. However, Notre Dame found their rhythm at the end of the period by brining the game to 15-12 with 29 seconds remaining. WVSU would score a basket and hold a 17-12 lead after one.
 
Notre Dame clawed their way in front for the first time after a Jada Marone layup with 7:12 remaining in the second (18-17). The Yellow Jackets would quickly regain the lead and hold it for the remainder of the quarter until Ridley netted a layup with 42 seconds, giving NDC a 30-29 lead at the break.
 
In the second half, NDC would slowly swell their lead to seven (41-34 at 3:56) after a pair of Parr free throws, their largest lead thus far. WVSU turned the game around with a 7-0 run, tying the contest at 41-41, 60 seconds later. Alana Ellis would score a layup with 23 seconds left in the quarter to give Notre Dame a 45-43 advantage heading into the final stanza.
 
In the final quarter, NDC would hold West Virginia State scoreless until the 7:31 mark (4:14 in total), allowing the Falcons to go on a 9-0 run and lead 52-43. Notre Dame would push their lead to 58-45 with 3:23 remaining, their largest of the game. Free throws would put the game away, 61-49 in favor of NDC.
 
It is important to note, that West Virginia State entered the contest averaging 81.1 points per game which was top five amongst all of NCAA Division II. On this occasion NDC's defensive held the Yellow Jackets to a season-low 49 points, which is 12 points lower than any other game they have played this season. In two games this year, NDC has held WVSU to 56.5 ppg.
 
An elated Gordon said post game, "This was a team win for us! We played together, and made the necessary adjustments second half. I am proud of the fight and grit we showed! This was a big win for us."
 
Notre Dame was led offensively by Ridley's game-high and career-high 19 points, followed by Lilee Carlson's 12 and Ellis' ten. As previously stated, Parr contributed from several different avenues with six points, a game-high and season-high 13 rebounds, four assists and a career-high nine steals. The senior's nine steals are the most by an NDC Falcon since Jada Marone nabbed ten steals last season against Davis & Elkins on Jan. 30, 2021.
 
Ridley added eight rebounds, while Marone generated six to go along with a game-high and team-high five assists.
 
In comparing the teams, NDC shot 25-61 (41.0%) from the field, 2-13 (15.4%) from three and 9-10 (90.0%) form the line. WVSU net 17-54 (31.5%) from the floor, 8-30 (26.7%) from deep and 7-9 (77.8%) from the charity stripe. Notre Dame out-rebounded West Virginia State 40-33, while also winning the turnover battle 25-21. The Falcons scored 46 points in the paint (compared to 14 by WVSU) and converted 28 points off of turnovers (compared to 14 by WVSU).
 
Notre Dame College will be back in action for the final week of the regular season when they hit the road on Wednesday Feb. 23 for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off against West Liberty University. NDC will conclude their season at home on Saturday Feb. 26 at 2:00 p.m. against Alderson Broaddus University.