HARRISBURG, Pa. — Notre Dame basketball faced York College of New York Sunday afternoon in the consolation game of the "Pride. Spirit. Honor. Tournament" hosted by Penn State Harrisburg.  The Gators got off to a hot start against the Cardinals, holding a 31-18 lead at the half.  York would hang on in the third to get within seven, but in the fourth quarter the Gators held strong, scoring a 59-48 victory.  

The Gators jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first as senior Justine Mudiay downed her first of three three-pointers in the game in the opening minute of play.  After a strong defensive effort by the Gators, sophomore Jaya Green posted her first score of the game, a jump shot with seven minutes to play in the first.

With six minutes left in the first quarter, the Cardinals got the score back to even off a 7-2 run.  On Notre Dame's next possession, Green recorded a free throw to regain the lead.  Freshman Vanessa Dunn kept the Gator pressure downing her first three-pointer of the game, Notre Dame now leading 11-7.
 
To close out the first, Notre Dame went on a 7-4 run to go into the second up, 18-11.

In the second quarter of play, the Gators only gave up seven points, while tacking on 13.  Senior Justice Walrath and Mudiay each tallied a three-pointer in the third quarter.  Notre Dame went into halftime with a 31-18 lead.

York College did not back down in the third quarter.  Through the first seven minutes of the third, the Cardinals outscored the Gators 12-4.  

A late layup by freshman Daija Fitchett and a pair of free throw by sophomores Adrianna Fletcher and Keyeria Dawson helped the Gators climb back out to a 11-point lead to close out the third.  Notre Dame headed into the fourth quarter with a 43-32 lead.

In the fourth quarter, the Gators kept the pressure not allowing the Cardinals to get back within 10 points.  They tied York 16-16 to take their first victory of the season, 59-48.

Mudiay and Dunn lead the Gators in scoring with 17 points each.  Mudiay was 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.  She also tallied six rebounds against the Cardinals.  At the conclusion of the game, she was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Dunn also posted 17 points with five three-pointers for a career high.  Dunn went off in the final quarter, scoring three of her five three-pointers in the fourth.  She also finished with four rebounds.  

As a team, the Gators recorded 53 rebounds led by Green with nine.  She also finished with five points.

The Gators posted five blocks against York, the best blocking performance this season.  Fitchett led the team with two.  Fitchett also posted seven rebounds and currently leads the Gators this season with 29.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Gators will open up their Colonial States Athletic Conference play on Wednesday as they travel to Rosemont College for a 7:00 p.m. game time.