Still in the hunt
Frosh pivot on the mark in 81-68 win over Ursuline
| Box |

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame advanced to the second round of the American Mideast Conference (AMC) Qualifying Tournament Wednesday night with an 81-68 win in a local battle against Ursuline College. Notre Dame jumped out to a 53-39 lead at halftime by shooting 60.0 percent (24-for-40) in the opening frame. The Falcons closed out the Arrows in the second behind the fine play of freshman center Yvette Hunter (Jamestown, NY), who posted game-highs in points (24) and rebounds (15).

The win sends NDC into a match-up with Rio Grande in the tournament's second round. The Falcons will host the game on Saturday (game time TBA). The Redwomen advanced in the tournament with a 68-52 win over Urbana.

Hunter scored her 24 on 11-of-20 shooting, hitting on a variety of shots down low and from 14-16 feet, near the free throw line. Guards Molly Baker (Jr/Avon Lake, OH), Amanda Brown (So/Vienna, VA), and Ashley Carney (Jr/Solon, OH) collected a combined 16 assists, mostly on inside feeds to Hunter. Brown finished the game with 13 points, seven boards, and eight assists. The Falcons had four players finish in double figures.

"I'm proud of these young ladies," said Head Coach Dick Deasy. "The way we played in the first half - that might be our best stretch all year."

For the game, the Blue & Gold shot 50.0 percent (33-for-66). They out-rebounded Ursuline, 41-38.

Junior forward Jessica Wood (Warren, OH) and senior guard Diona Graham led the Arrows. Wood scored 17 points and collected six rebounds. Graham posted 15 and seven. The Arrows shot 37.7 percent (23-for-61) from the floor. They hit on 37.5 percent (9-for-24) from beyond the arc.

The victory extends a winning streak for the Falcons and ends a winning streak, and the 2007-08 season, for the Arrows. Notre Dame has now won four straight. The Arrows win streak was halted a three.

NDC will host Rio Grande Saturday for the second time this season. URG (23-6) earned a postseason berth with a 9-5 mark in the AMC South Division. The Redwomen defeated NDC, 87-61, in South Euclid on Dec. 1. The start time for Saturday's second round game is expected to be announced on Thursday.

NOTES FROM THE NEST...

FROSH ON FIRE: Yvette Hunter's performance Wednesday was nothing new. The 5-foot-11 product of Jamestown, N.Y. is averaging 11.2 points per game in this, her first collegiate season. Hunter has become increasingly dominant in the second half of the season - in NDC's last 14 contests (since mid-Jan.), Hunter is averaging 14.0 points with a 59.0 percent (79-for-134) shooting mark. Over her last three games, she is averaging 20.0 points and 12.0 rebounds.

AC-1K: With her first basket of Wednesday's game, junior Ashley Carney recorded her 1,000th career point. In a brief stoppage of play, she was honored in a ceremony with Head Coach Dick Deasy at center court. Carney finished the game with 15 points and four assists. The Solon High School product leads the Falcons in scoring this season, at 16.0 points per game, which ranks sixth in the conference.

STREAKS AND TRENDS: NDC is now 18-0 all-time against their eastside neighbors. The Falcons topped the Arrows in three meetings this season, the first two of which required double-digit comebacks. ... With their first round tournament win, the NDC women are now 2-5 in their last seven postseason games. The Falcons were knocked out of last year's Qualifying Tournament in the second round. ... With their tourney win over the Arrows Wednesday, NDC runs their home record this season to 12-1. The Falcons are now 51-7 (.864 winning percentage) in their last 58 games on College Road.