SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – After trailing by as many as 18 points, Notre Dame College inbounded the basketball with eight seconds remaining in a tied 81-81 game. Next, redshirt junior Kennadi Harris found junior Karli Anker on the right wing for a game-winning three-point field goal. The Falcons downed the Mountain Lions at the buzzer 84-81 in front of the home crowd, to complete the season sweep of CU, as NDC took round one back on Dec. 2 in Athens, WV 80-65.
 
In an early back-and-forth battle, CU led narrowly 9-8 following a layup by Izabella Zirzow at the 5:40 mark. Concord closed the quarter on a 20-3 run, to lead 29-11 after the first period of play.
 
Notre Dame found their groove in the second quarter as the Falcons shot a blazing 12-19 (63.2%) from the floor, including holding Concord to 2-11 (18.2%) shooting from the field. NDC totaled 29 points in the period, tied for the most during any quarter this season, a feat also accomplished in the fourth quarter on Dec. 2 at CU (and third quarter vs. Clarion on Nov. 10). The Falcons began the frame on a 12-0 run, trimming the deficit to six (29-23), as CU did not record their first point until the seven-minute mark. Following some back-and-forth action, Zirzow canned a jumper to knot the contest at 34-34 before Anker gifted NDC the lead on a free throw with 2:50 remaining until halftime. Notre Dame carried a 40-38 advantage into the break, as Hayley St. John scored a layup with less than a minute in the half.
 
In the third quarter, Notre Dame moved in front 42-38 on a pair of free throws by Lilee Carlson. Next, CU opened a 21-7 run over the next six minutes to reclaimed a double-digit edge, 59-49. NDC worked their way back into the contest by the end of the period, following an 8-1 run, capped off by a Harris three-pointer with 12 seconds left in the quarter (64-60 CU).
 
The Falcons caught fire once again in the fourth quarter, posting similar numbers to the second. This time, NDC shot 10-15 (66.7%) from the floor, and held CU to just 3-13 (23.1%) shooting in the period. The contest remained within a one-possession game for the majority of the quarter, as St. John tied the game at 74-74 with 3:11 left to play. The basket marked the second time NDC came back from down 10 or more points in the game, displaying how resilient head coach Lauren Macer's squad really is. This time, Notre Dame refused to give Concord back the lead, as NDC was either tied or in front over the final three minutes of play. With eight second remaining in a tied 81-81 game, redshirt junior Rachel Richardson inbounded the ball to Harris in front of the Falcon bench. Harris dribbled and lured the defense away from Anker, before dishing off to the Akron, Ohio native for a game-winning three-point field goal as time expired.
 
Five Falcons found their way into double figures, led by Noel Weathers' game-high 22 points on an efficient 8-11 shooting from the floor. Anker (11), Richardson (11), Harris (10) and McDaniel (10) also notched double-digits on the night.
 
As eluded to by Macer following the win over Davis & Elkins on Feb. 3, facilitating the ball and finding the open player is an important part of the game plan. The Falcons followed orders and for the second straight game Notre Dame notched a season-high. After tying a season-high 17 assists on Saturday, NDC posted a season-high 19 assists today, as seven different players recorded multiple dimes. Richardson owned a team-high four, while McDaniel and Zirzow totaled a season-high three each, alongside Carlson with three, while Anker, Harris and Nadia Jackson generated two apiece.
 
On the glass, Weathers corralled a game-high nine rebounds, as Zirzow brought down five.
 
Defensively, Notre Dame forced Concord into 25 turnovers, as Anker swiped three steals, followed by Carlson, Harris, McDaniel and Zirzow with two each. Weathers continues to by a shot-blocking machine, as the sophomore tallied three vs. CU, to total 48 blocks on the season, tied for the third-most in program history with Selene Rich during the 1989-90 season.
 
As a team, Notre Dame shot 31-62 (50.0%) from the floor, 6-17 (35.3%) from three and 16-29 (55.2%) from the free throw line. The Falcons added 32 rebounds, 19 assists, 11 steals and seven blocks.
 
The Notre Dame College women's basketball team will be back in action on Saturday Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. at Glenville State University.