Box Score Phoenixville, Pa. -- The Notre Dame of Maryland basketball team traveled to non-conference rival Valley Forge University Tuesday for their last game before the Thanksgiving break.  A tight matchup would see the game come down to the final seconds as the Gators would outlast the Patriots, 65-64.  In the final quarter of play, Notre Dame and Valley Forge saw a tied score three times with four lead changes.

Notre Dame had four Gators post double figure in scoring led by sophomore Stephanie Roche (Baltimore, Md. / Perry Hall) who recorded 17 points and game winning three pointer.  Sophomore Zaria Comer (Leesburg, Va. / Tuscarora) tallied 12 points on the night, going 6-8 from the floor while both junior Naimani Staley (Silver Spring, Md. / Blair) and sophomore Ashley Guy (Leonardtown, Md.) notched 10 points apiece.  Freshman Justice Walrath (Severna Park, Md.) led the Gators in rebounds with nine while posting a team high six assists.  As a team, Notre Dame posted 42 rebounds and had team season highs in both steals (10) and assists (18).

The Patriots opened up scoring with a three pointer at the 8:45 mark.  A three pointer by Staley a minute later would see the score tied up for the first time of the night.  Over the next three minutes Valley Forge would go on a seven point run, leading Notre Dame, 3-10.  With 3:30 remaining in the first quarter, a put back by freshman Justine Mundiay (Baltimore, Md. / Cristo Rey Jesuit) would help fuel the Gators to a 8-0 run as Notre Dame would take an 11-10 lead with 2:24 to play in the first.  

At the two minute mark, the Patriots would tie up the game (11-11) for the second time.  On the opposite end of the floor, a basket by Guy assisted by Staley would put the Gators back up by two, but a pair of free throws by Valley Forge would see the score tied at 13 for the third time.  Notre Dame would head into the second quarter up by two after a late basket by Comer, 15-13.

Notre Dame would continue the pressure, scoring in the opening seconds of the second quarter, off a three pointer by Mundiay assisted by sophomore Jennifer Whiting (Perry Hall, Md.).  For the entirety of the second quarter, the Patriots and Gators would trade points seeing the Gators with a lead as high as eight with 2:30 remaining, 31-23.  A pair of free throws by Valley Forge with four seconds left in the second quarter would cut the lead to four, 33-29 going into the half.  

With five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Valley Forge would again see free throws bring the game to within two points, 39-37.  Through a minute swing in the third, the Gators would go on a 8-1 run, giving the Notre Dame their largest lead of the night, 48-38.  After trading points, Notre Dame and Valley Forge would close out the third quarter with the Gators up six, 52-46.

The battle would continue into the fourth quarter, with the Patriots cutting the lead to three of a three pointer with 5:45 left to play.  The score would remain unchanged through the next two minutes of the fourth when a layup by Valley Forge would cut the Gators lead to one.  A minute later, the Patriots would take the lead with 2:30 left to play, 56-57.  

A clutch layup by Roche with 1:57 remaining would again see Notre Dame ahead by one, but a free throw by Valey Forge would see the score tied for the fourth time of the game, 58-58. Through the next 45 seconds, Notre Dame would score four points off of baskets by Staley and Roche, but would be matched by Valley Forge.  With 14 seconds remaining, the score would be tied at 62 for the sixth and final time of the game.  

With one second remaining in the game, Valley Forge would head to the free throw line.  Jhanel Brown for the Patriots would sink both free throws, leaving the Gators down two, 62-64.  A timeout and ball advancement for the Gators would see one last possession for Notre Dame.  With .9 remaining Roche would put up a last effort three point attempt, scoring the game winning basket off an assist by Comer, sealing a Notre Dame win 65-64.  

With the win, the Gators head into Thanksgiving break 3-1 overall and will return Sunday as they host Penn State Abington.  Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.