Box Score Langhorne, Pa. – The Notre Dame of Maryland basketball team traveled to Cairn University Saturday afternoon for a Colonial States Athletic Conference matchup.  After climbing back from a 10 points deficit, Notre Dame was able to tie the game with less than two minutes remaining in the game, but a late layup and free-throws by the Highlanders would hand the Gators a 53-57 conference loss.

The Gators had two player recorded double-doubles in the game, led by junior Zaria Comer who posted 20 points and 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double this season and 23^rd for her career.  She also tallied five blocks in the game, breaking Notre Dame's single season block record that she set last season.  She now has 46 for the season and 122 for her career.  Junior Ashley Guy also posted a double-double in the game, her first this season and fourth for her career.  She finished the game with 11 points and her team-high, 17 rebounds mark a career-high for Guy. Notre Dame finished the game with 58 rebounds, their largest rebound performance this season.   

Notre Dame would open the game to a three-point lead off of a layup by sophomore Justine Mudiay and free-throw by Comer.  With three-minutes off the clock, Cairn would tie the game off a three-pointer.  After the Highlanders would take a two-point lead, the Gators would again see the score tied at five apiece off a jumper by junior Dania Taylor. 

Cairn would go on a 7-0 run before Notre Dame could find the basket with just under two-minutes remaining in the quarter.  Mudiay would cut the Highlander lead to five off a pair of free-throws, but matching free-throws by Cairn would, see Notre Dame down seven, with one-minute left.  Comer would record a layup to close out the first, Gators down, 9-14 going into the second.

To open the second quarter, Notre Dame would score first, getting the Gators within three off a jumper by Comer.  After trading points, a layup by Taylor with five minutes left in the half, would get Notre Dame within one, 19-20.  But over the next three-minutes, Cairn would go on a 7-1 run to see the Gators down, seven with two-minutes remaining in the half.  Notre Dame would score the last three-points of the second quarter, going into halftime down, 23-27.

The Highlanders would open scoring in the second half and with five-minute left in the quarter, Notre Dame would be faced with the largest deficit of the night, down 10, 30-40.  The Gators would fight back, but to close the quarter would be faced with a seven-point deficit down, 39-46 going into the final frame.

Notre Dame would go on an 8-3 run to open the fourth quarter, getting within four of Cairn with just over four-minutes left in the game.  A layup by Comer at the three-minute mark would see the Gators within two and after a minute of failed opportunities for both teams, junior Stephanie Roche would tie the game at 53 apiece.  With time running down, Notre Dame would have to foul to stop the clock.  A late layup and pair of free-throws by Cairn would seal the game as the Gators fell, 53-37.

The Gators come home for their final two games of the season as they host Neumann University and Keystone College next week.