GLENVILLE, W.Va. – It is always tough to play on the road, especially against the 2022 national champions and 2023 national semifinalists in Glenville State University. However, the Notre Dame College women's basketball team did not waver, as the Falcons bested the Pioneers 94-86 on Saturday afternoon, marking the first win over GSU since 2016.
 
"The team shared the ball well, leading to 16 assists. We really played together and stayed together through the course of the game," mentioned head coach Lauren Macer postgame.
 
The Falcons started the contest on the right foot as an offensive rebound by Izabella Zirzow led to a Lilee Carlson three-pointer, assisted by Rachel Richardson. NDC controlled the first quarter, not allowing GSU to lead at any point. With the score tied at 8-8 at the 7:55 mark, Notre Dame closed out the period on a 23-8 run, to lead 31-16 after the first. The Falcons shot 54.6-percent from the floor, as NDC made 12 shots including five three-pointers to post their most points in a quarter all season.
 
The tempo slowed during the second quarter as the Falcons remained in front by double-digits for the entire frame, thanks for 62.5-percent shooting from the field. Despite a late 7-0 run by GSU to close the half, NDC continued to handle Glenville State 45-34 into halftime.
 
In the third quarter, Glenville State found their groove, claiming the frame 27-16, to tie the game at 61-61 with 10 minutes left in the game.
 
Resiliently in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame responded and rediscovered their first half game plan, as Nadia Jackson knocked down a three-pointer to gift the lead back to NDC 64-61. However, GSU grabbed their first lead of the game following a free throw at the 8:49 mark. The Pioneers remained in front until Jackson canned her second three-pointer of the period with 5:54 remaining, knotting the contest at 71-71. The Falcons moved back in front and stayed in front for remainder of the game on a layup by Carlson with 5:06 on the clock. The NDC advantage swelled to seven points as Notre Dame knocked down six consecutive free throws with 3:50 left to play. The clutch free throw shooting closed out the contest for the Falcons 94-86, as Notre Dame shot 16-20 from the charity stripe in the frame. Moreover, Notre Dame totaled a season-high 33 points in the period, besting the 31 scored in the first quarter.
 
"The teams knows that on every night we have different players stepping up and everyone contributing in different ways," stated Macer. "I'm proud of how we are continuing to grow and compete together."
 
The Falcons were extremely balanced on the offensive side of the ball as six players registered double figures on the afternoon. Karli Anker totaled a team-high and season-high 22 points, on 12 made free throws, tied for the seventh-most made free throws in a game in program history. Kennadi Harris (16), Carlson (13), Richardson (13), Jackson (12) and Noel Weathers (10) added to the offensive outpour, as Jackson tied a career-high.
 
As mentioned by Macer, the team distributed the ball well, leading to team 16 assists. Carlson paced the game and tied a career-high with seven dimes in the contest. Harris (3) and Jackson (2) also notched multiple assists.
 
On the glass, Weathers hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds for her team-leading seventh double-double of the year. Harris (9) and Carlson (7) contributed on the boards, notching a season-high and career-high, respectively.
 
As a team, Notre Dame shot 28-55 from the floor (50.9%), 10-17 (58.8%) from three and 28-38 from the free throw line. The Falcons added 42 rebounds, 16 assists, nine steals and two blocks. 94 points are a season-high and the most points scored since Feb. 12, 2020 when the Falcons scored 108 at Fairmont State. 58.8-percent from downtown is the third-best three-point percentage in program history and highest since Mar. 2 2019 (68.0% at Urbana). 28 made free throws are tied for the sixth-most in program history and the most since Nov. 20, 2021 (33 at Wheeling).
 
The Notre Dame College women's basketball team are winners of three of their last four games, and will be back in action on Wednesday Feb. 14 at 5:30 p.m. when the University of Charleston comes to Murphy Gymnasium.