Second try
Falcons master Malone in 80-49 blowout
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SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame topped Malone College, 80-49, Tuesday in American Mideast Conference (AMC) North Division action. 

The victory for the Falcons is their second in a row, and it sends them into a rematch with Daemen College (NY) Saturday carrying the second-best record in the AMC-North.  That means, at worst, NDC will host a postseason game at home next week.  Daemen has already clinched the AMC North crown; they came into Tuesday night’s action undefeated in the circuit with a 12-0 mark.  The win also serves as retribution for an earlier miscue – the Falcons lost to the Pioneers on Feb. 2.

Tuesday’s game opened with both teams trading baskets for the first 10 minutes.  The Falcons’ inside game keyed a late run, and NDC took a 36-27 into halftime.  Molly Baker (Jr/Avon Lake, OH), Jamie Henry (Jr/Garfield Heights, OH), and Yvette Hunter (Fr/Jamestown, NY) combined to score 25 first-half points.  That frontcourt trio also led an NDC effort on the glass and on defense – NDC out-rebounded Malone in the first, they blocked five shots, and were plus-3 in the turnover battle. 

As a team, Notre Dame (20-6, 10-3) shot 48.3 percent (14-for-29) from the floor in the opening half.  They also got to the line 12 times, making eight (66.7 percent).

In the second, Notre Dame built their lead to 13 (44-31) by the 16-minute mark, after a Jamie Henry runner in the lane found the bottom of the net.

The second half was marred by a serious injury to NDC sixth man, Kate Verhoff (So/Elyria, OH) at 13:36.  Verhoff collided with a Malone player and hit her head on the Murphy Gymnasium floor. 

The Blue & Gold built their lead to 22 points by the five-minute mark, and cruised to their largest margin of victory (31 points) since Nov. 13, when they defeated Temple Baptist College, 102-33.

Jamie Henry scored 20 points to lead the Falcons.  Yvette Hunter chipped in 17 and nine rebounds.  Molly Baker added 10 and nine.  For the game, Notre Dame shot 52.4 percent (33-for-63).

The Falcons won the rebounding (plus-11) and turnover (plus-7) battles for the game.

Kellyn Murphy (Sr/Hartville, OH) and Tara Miller (Jr/Troy, OH) each scored 12 points to pace the Pioneers (7-18, 5-7).

Tuesday’s result gives NDC 20 wins for a fourth consecutive season.  It also runs the Falcons’ home record this season to 10-1.

Notre Dame’s next game, and their regular season finale, will be Saturday, Feb. 23.  NDC will host Daemen at 2:00pm.

NOTES FROM THE NEST...

HIGH MARKS: Jamie Henry's 20-point performance was her second 20-plus game of the season. The junior forward from Garfield Heights tallied a season-high 22 Jan. 23 against Northwestern Ohio. ... Yvette Hunter finished Tuesday's game with five blocked shots; that's a new program record. The previous record which was accomplished multiple times, the last of which by Hunter herself on Dec. 19. The freshman post player from Jamestown, Ohio now has 31 blocks on the season; that leads the team.

DIA ON DECK:   On Saturday, the NDC Women’s program will honor their graduating class as part of its Senior Day.  Senior guard Sarah Dia (Parma, OH) will be honored in a ceremony before the game against Daemen.  Saturday is also Alumni Day for the NDC Women’s team.  Former Falcon players will be on campus throughout the day and participate in the program’s annual Alumni Game at 11:00am.