BALTIMORE, Md. – Notre Dame basketball charged back to take a 62-56 victory over Colonial States Athletic Conference opponent, Cedar Crest College Saturday afternoon.  In the Gators' first conference victory of the season, two scored double figures, while the team finished with their best shooting percentage of the season.

In the first half of play, after falling behind in the opening plays, the Gators' went on a 7-2 run to give them a 13-7 lead with just under three minutes in the first.  To close out the first quarter, Notre Dame shooting went cold, allowing the Falcons to get back to even, 14-14 going into the second.

Cedar Crest shooting in the second quarter fired up as they took a 24-16 lead with 6:35 left to play in the half.  In just under a minute, a pair of layups by sophomores Adrianna Fletcher and Jaya Green and a free-throw by Green, helped cut the lead to two with just over six minutes on the clock.

After trading points in the second quarter, the Gators posted back-to-back layups to close the gap, seeing the score tied at the break, 31 all. 

The third quarter saw five lead changes and two tied scores, with both teams fighting to gain an advantage. 

With two minutes left in the third, the Falcons took a narrow one-point lead off a second-chance rebound and layup.  On the opposite end, senior Justice Walrath again, regained the Gator lead after a give-and-go layup assisted by senior Justine Mudiay, 41-40.

Fletcher downed one of her two three-pointers to give the Gators a 46-42 advantage going into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame held strong to their lead, only allowing the Falcons to get within three with just under six-minutes to play, 50-47.  Two free-throws by Walrath in the final seconds helped seal the Gators', 62-56 victory.

The Gators showed resiliency in the second half.  Cedar Crest held a score advantage for 48% of the game.  Notre Dame held tough, reaching their largest lead of the day with one minute left at 60-53.

Freshman Vanessa Dunn and Fletcher led the team in scoring.  Dunn had her third game this season posting 10 or more points, finishing with 15.  She was 2-for-5 from three-point range and was 6-for-13 overall.

Fletcher posted several timely baskets to give the Gators much need momentum, as she finished with 14 points.  She was 6-for-14 from the floor with two three-pointers.
Mudiay led the team in rebounds, posting nine while also finishing with nine points and three assists. 

Walrath recorded a team-leading five assists and finished the game with nine points (3-7 FG, 3-4 FT).

The Gators posted season-highs in points, field goals made, and assists. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Notre Dame has one more CSAC games in 2018 as they will travel to Clarks Summit University on Wednesday.  On Saturday, the Gators return home to face Immaculata for a 1:00 p.m. start time.