Ice-cold
Falcons open December with blowout loss to Rio Grande
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SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio –  Notre Dame lost their first game of the season Saturday, struggling in a 87-61 decision against Rio Grande in an American Mideast Conference (AMC) North-South match-up of undefeated teams.  Notre Dame (6-1) shot just 32.3 percent (20-for-62) in the contest, losing the game by the largest margin (26 points) since Feb. 25, 2006.
 
Rio Grande (7-0) jumped out to a 23-13 lead on the strength of 9-of-15 shooting in the game’s first eight minutes.  The Redwomen hit a mix of field goals from the paint and from beyond the 3-point arc a well-balanced attack; 10 URG players found the scoring column in the opening stanza.

On the other side of the ball, a staunch Rio defense kept the Falcons at bay in the opening half, allowing just 30 points on 10-of-33 shooting (30.3 percent).  The 30 first half points is a season low for an NDC team which came into the game as one of the top-ranked offenses in the nation.  In the first half, the Falcons were out-shot (47.4 percent to 30.3) and out-rebounded (29 to 17). The Redwomen took a 46-30 lead into their locker room at the half.

In the second half, the Redwomen extended their lead to 24 points by the midway point of the second frame.  Notre Dame continued to struggle from the floor in the second – for the game, the Falcons shot a season-low 32.3 percent.

“We didn’t come out and start the game like we wanted to,” said Head Coach Dick Deasy.  “From there, we just seemed to be out of sync, letting Rio control the game.  That’s a good team on the other side, but we didn’t play our game.”

For the Rio side, the Redwomen displayed a depth to their attack as eight players scored six or more points in the game.  Kaylee Helton led the Redwomen with 18 points.

Forwards Molly Baker (Jr/Avon Lake, OH) and Jamie Henry (Jr/Garfield Heights, OH) led Notre Dame with 16 points each.  Baker and freshman center Yvette Hunter (Jamestown, NY) each had seven rebounds to lead the team. For the game, URG out-rebounded NDC, 52-38.

Notre Dame’s blowout loss is their worst since Feb. 25, 2006, when they were defeated 85-56 by Cedarville in the AMC Championship Game.

Notre Dame's next game is slated for Tuesday, Dec. 4, when they travel to Lima to take on the Northwestern Ohio Racers. Tip off is scheduled for 5:30pm as the first half of a women's-men's doubleheader.