PAINESVILLE, Ohio – For the second straight game, sophomore Noel Weathers blocked six shots, tying a career-high and the second-most in NDC program history. Weathers also swiped the game-winning steal, leading to a pair of Cencere McDaniel free throws, as Notre Dame College (4-8) bested Lake Erie College (1-10) 56-54 on Saturday afternoon on the road.
 
The first quarter started slow with four Falcons registering a basket, as NDC led LEC 9-7 after one. Weathers contributed to the low-scoring affair with four blocks after the first 10 minutes of play.
 
Notre Dame found their rhythm in the second quarter as Kennadi Harris, Izabella Zirzow and Lilee Carlson made three-pointers to stretch the lead to 19-11 with 6:44 left in the half. Next, the Storm produced a 15-4 run to flip the score in favor of LEC 26-23 with two minutes until the break. A Weathers jumper in the paint would make the score 26-25 Lake Erie at the half.
 
In the third quarter, NDC struggled from the floor, as Lake Erie opened a 44-33 advantage, before Hayley St. John trimmed the Falcon deficit back to single digits with 10 minutes left to play (44-35).
 
Notre Dame continued to fight and generated an 11-2 run, kicked-off by the St. John score, as the Falcons tied the contest at 46-46 with 5:47 on the clock. The two sides went back-and-forth, exchanging baskets and free throws as Weathers tied the game with 33 seconds remaining, marking the fifth tie of the game. On the ensuing possession as Lake Erie looked to take the last shot, Weathers swiped a pivotal steal, ultimately securing the game for the Falcons as McDaniel flushed a pair of free throws, 56-54. The free throws created just the second lead change of the contest as the game produced waves of momentum for both sides.
 
Harris paced the match with a game-high 15 points on 3-7 shooting from three. Carlson and McDaniel chipped in nine points, as Weathers added eight and Zirzow tallied seven.
 
A balanced rebounding effort for the Falcons saw Karli Anker pull down a team-high five rebounds, alongside St. John, Weathers and Zirzow with four apiece.
 
Anker and Rachel Richardson facilitated a team-best three assists apiece, while Anker and St. John swiped a season-high four steals each.
 
As aforementioned, Weathers blocked a game-high and tied a career-high six blocks for the second consecutive contest. Six blocks are tied for the second-most in any game in NDC program history.
 
As a team, Notre Dame shot 20-57 (35.1%) from the floor, 5-20 (25.0%) from three and 11-20 (55.0%) from the free throw line. The Falcons added 35 rebounds, 13 assists, 13 steals and seven blocks.
 
The Notre Dame College women's basketball team will be back in action on Wednesday Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m. when the Falcons welcome West Virginia State University into Murphy Gymnasium.