The late show
NDC surges in second to down Point Park
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PITTSBURGH – For the second straight game, Notre Dame got out of the gates slowly, only to surge ahead with a strong second half performance. NDC topped Point Park University Saturday, 61-49, for their second concerence win in as many tries.

Junior guard Ashley Carney (Solon, OH) scored 18 points and chipped in five assists for the Falcons, who are now tied for first in the North Division of the American Mideast Conference (AMC) with a 2-0 league mark. NDC is tied with Daemen College-NY (10-5, 2-0).

Junior forward Jamie Henry (Garfield Heights, OH) scored 17 points and added eight rebounds in the Falcons' win, their second in a row. It was a win, however, that was certainly not in hand early against the seventh-place Pioneers (2-12, 0-1).

Notre Dame (11-3, 2-0) scored a season-low 18 points in the first 20 minutes against Point Park. The Falcons again struggled from the floor, shooting just 24.1 percent (7-for-29) from the field in the opening stanza. PPU went on a nine-minute, 18-1 run late in the first to take a 26-18 lead into their locker room at the break.

The second half, however, seemed to be 20 minutes' worth of retribution for what had become an off month for NDC shooters. The Falcons traded baskets with the Pioneers for several minutes to begin the second frame before NDC got back inthe game with an 11-2 run. The Falcons never looked back after that; in the last 10 minutes of the game, the would outscore PPU, 22-9, to close out the win. The Blue & Gold shot 66.7 percent (18-for-27) in the second. NDC shot 44.6 percent (25-for-56) for the game.

Junior guard Molly Baker (Avon Lake, OH) added 13 points, six rebounds, and three steals to the NDC effort.

Sophomore forward Brittney Wilson (West Mifflin, PA) led the Pioneers with 17 points and 12 boards. PPU shot 30.3 percent (20-for-66) on the afternoon.

The win puts a cap on a seven-game road swing for the Falcons, who have not played at home since Dec. 1 (87-61 loss to Rio Grande). Notre Dame, ranked No. 40 in the most recent National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Coaches' Poll, will play their next five games at home. That stretch will begin Wednesday, Jan. 16 with a 6:00pm tilt against Roberts Wesleyan (NY).

Notes from the Nest...

15-foot slump: Despite the win at Point Park, Notre Dame struggled at the free throw line for a second straight game. In their last two games, NDC has connected on just 38.0 percent (15) of their 39 attempts from the charity stripe. For the season, Notre Dame is shooting 63.3 percent (179-for-283) from the line.

Making their point: With Saturday's victory, Notre Dame has now defeated Point Park 11 straight times, dating back to Jan. 7, 2003.

Basket case: NDC's scoring average has taken a beating over the last two weeks. The Falcons, which ranked in the top-five in the nation in shooting and scoring a month ago, have averaged just 64.3 points per game over the last four contests. Notre Dame is now averaging 76.7 points per game, which ranks 19th in the nation.