Box Score
Baltimore, Md. -- The Notre Dame of Maryland University basketball team claimed a thrilling victory over Colonial States Athletic Conference rival Cairn University, to notch the Gators sixth win and second in conference.

In the win, the Gators had three players record double-figures in scoring led by sophomore Zaria Comer (Leesburg, Va. / Tuscarora) with 13 points.  Comer also reeled in nine rebounds for the Gators adding one block and going 3-for-5 from the free throw line.  Sophomore Ashley Guy (Leonardtown, Md.) recorded her first double-double of the season and second in her career.  Guy tallied 10 rebounds and 10 points, going 5-for-6 from the floor with two steals.  Sophomore Stephanie Roche (Baltimore, Md. / Perry Hall) knocked down two three-pointers for Notre Dame, ending the night with 10 points and five rebounds while freshman Justice Walrath (Severna Park, Md.) added eight points to the effort while leading the offensive with five assists.  As a team, Notre Dame recorded 10 steals, their eighth game this season with 10 or more steals and 10 assists, their 12th game this season with 10 or more.

Cairn would open up scoring going on an 8-0 run through the first three minutes of play.  Walrath would put the Gators on the board at the 6:38 mark off a drive and layup to the basket.  In the first five minutes of regulation, Cairn would hold a 12-2 lead over Notre Dame, but back to back baskets by Walrath and Comer would see the Gators down six with 4:49 left in the first quarter.  

Back to back jumpers by the Highlanders would again see Cairn with a 10 point lead with two minutes left in the first quarter.  To close out the first quarter, sophomore Shelby Cochran (Wilmington, Del. / Hodgson Vo Tech) would down her first of two three-pointers of the night, to cut the Cairn lead to five, Notre Dame down 19-14.

With 9:22 left in the second quarter Guy would tally two off a second chance effort, cutting the Highlanders led to three.  On the Gators next offensive possession, another second chance effort by Comer would put two more on the board and a free-throw opportunity.  Comer would down her free-throw, seeing the scored tied for the first time of the night at 19 each.

With 8:27 on the clock, Cairn would again go up by two, but Notre Dame would again tie the score off a steal by Guy and jumper by Walrath. Over the next two and a half minutes a pair of three-pointers and a jumper by Cairn would put the Highlanders up by eight, the score 29-21.  On the opposite end of the court, Roche would down a three-pointer, seeing the Gators down four with 2:48 left in the first half.  

The Gators and Highlanders would rally back and forth for the last three minutes of the first half, but as time expired, Roche would add two for the Gators, going into halftime down four, 32-28.

In the first minute of the third quarter, Guy would cut the Cairn lead to two, Notre Dame down 32-30.  Over the next two minutes the Highlanders would outscore the Gators 9-2, holding a seven point lead, 41-34.  Notre Dame would again chip at the Cairn lead, cutting their lead to two in just over a minute off a three-pointer by Roche and basket by Walrath.  Notre Dame and Cairn would trade baskets the rest of the third quarter, going into the last quarter of play with the Highlanders up four, 45-41.

?In the first minute of the fourth quarter Guy would add two more for the Gators, getting within two, 45-43.  Again with 8:13 remaining in regulation, Guy would find the basket, tying the game for the third and final time of the night at 45 each.  Through the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, the Gators would outscore Cairn 9-0 to claim a seven point lead, Notre Dame up 52-45.

Cairn would not back down.  The Highlanders would answer the Gators nine point run with an eight point run over the next four minutes, getting within one point with just 1:13 remaining in the game.  A steal by Cochran and basket by Comer assisted by Megan O'Conner (Oxford, Pa. / Oxford Area) would put Notre Dame up by three with 26 seconds remaining. 

On the opposite end, Comer would strip the ball and be fouled, putting Comer on the line, giving Notre Dame their last possession of the evening.  After a pair of missed free-throws, Cairn would call a time out and advance the ball, giving the Highlanders the ball with just two seconds on the clock.  

A last second foul by Notre Dame would put Cairn on the line with a chance to tie the game, Highlanders shooting three free-throws.  Cairn would score two of three free-throws, the Gator up one with .1 on the clock.  A successful inbound pass by Notre Dame would seal the win giving the Gators their sixth win of the season and second in conference.  In the win, the Gators recorded 21 bench points helping propel them over the Highlanders.

Notre Dame is currently scheduled to travel to CSAC rival Summit University this Saturday.  Stay up to date to any schedule changes on Notre Dame's Facebook page and website.