Point parked
Falcons turn back Point Park, 73-54
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SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame defeated Point Park University Tuesday, 73-54, to remain among the leaders in the race for the American Mideast Conference (AMC) North Division crown. Junior guard Molly Baker (Avon Lake, OH) led the Falcons with 19 points and 10 rebounds, as Notre Dame cruised in their 12th straight win over PPU.

Notre Dame's (18-4, 8-1) win against Point Park (2-19, 0-8) comes as a bounce-back from a loss to Malone College on Saturday (76-70). That loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Falcons, who have now won nine of their last 10.

The result of Tuesday's game continues a losing streak for the Pioneers, who have now dropped 16 in a row. PPU's last win came in November (Nov. 27, 101-90 over Wilberforce).

NDC got on the board first when Yvette Hunter (Fr/Jamestown, NY) hit an easy layup from a Molly Baker (Jr/Avon Lake, OH) pass.  Notre Dame would go on to take an 18-8 lead by 12:25. 

Point Park shot just 27.6 percent (8-for-29) in the first, as NDC opened a 36-22 advantage by halftime.  Play in the first half was sloppy, as the two squads combined to commit 32 turnovers (PPU 17, NDC 15).

Baker paced the Falcon scoring in the opening stanza with 13 points.

The Pioneers came out strong in the second and would cut the NDC lead to seven, 41-34, at the 15-minute mark after Marissa Reinhard (So/Plum, PA) sank two buckets to make the score 41-34.  Reinhard finished with 11 points and six boards.

Notre Dame, however, was able to maintain a comfortable lead as the second frame wore on.  After the Reinhard basket, NDC went on a 23-11 run over 10 minutes to put the game well in hand.

Four Falcons would finish in double digits with Baker leading the way.  The junior guard from Avon Lake garnered a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.  Jamie Henry (Jr/Garfield Heights, OH) narrowly missed her own double-double.  She finished with 18 points and nine boards.
 
Notre Dame shot 41.5 percent (27-for-65) for the game.  The Falcons hit 13 of 17 (76.7 percent) from the foul line.

Point Park shot 31.3 (21-for-67) for the game.  NDC out-rebounded PPU, 49-39.   Sophomore forward Brittney Wilson (West Mifflin, PA) scored 14 to lead the Pioneers.

The win over the Pioneers keeps NDC in the race for one of three postseason berths available in the AMC North. Notre Dame came into Tuesday's game in second place in the North, a game-and-a-half behind division-leading Daemen College (NY). The Falcons are now 8-1 in the league with five division games remaining.

Notre Dame's next game is slated for Thursday, Feb. 7. Notre Dame will host Urbana University at Murphy Gymnasium. First tip is scheduled for 7:00pm.

NOTES FROM THE NEST...

FRIENDLY CONFINES: With Tuesday's home court victory, Notre Dame is now 9-1 at home this season. The Falcons are 48-7 (.873 winning percentage) in their last 55 contests on College Road. NDC has won six straight on their home hardwood, with their lone home loss coming on Dec. 1 (87-61, to Rio Grande).

MAKING THEIR POINT: NDC has now defeated Point Park in 12 straight games, dating back to 2002. The Pioneers' last win against NDC came on Feb. 16, 2002. ... PPU's 16-game slide is the longest in the AMC North this season.

BLUE, GOLD & PINK: Notre Dame's women's-men's doubleheader against Point Park was the drawing card for Shoot for the Cure, a fundraiser for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Falcon fans in pink attire dotted the Murphy Gymnasium bleachers, and funds were raised to assist with the battle against breast cancer. The event was sponsored by NDC Resident Life and the Department of Athletics.