BALTIMORE, Md. – The Notre Dame Gators held strong against Immaculata University on Saturday afternoon, scoring a 58-54 victory over the Might Macs.  In the non-conference match up, Notre Dame had two players posted double-doubles.

The Gators opened up scoring early in the first half as sophomore Adrianna Fletcher down her first three-pointer of the game, her first a 16 points game.  Sophomore Jaya Green assisted in the score. 

Notre Dame held their largest lead of the first when freshman Daija Fitchett scored off a jumper at the halfway mark.  The Mighty Macs closed out the first going on a 10-4 run to head into the second with a narrow, 15-13 lead.

Back-to-back scores by Fletcher and senior Justine Mudiay put the Gators back on top to open the third. Fletcher downed another three-pointer and Mudiay tallied a give-and-go layup both assisted by senior Justice Walrath.

A three-pointer by IU with eight on the clock in saw the score tied for the fourth time in the game, 18 all.  After the Mighty Macs score, the Gators over the next six minutes went on a 13-5 run to take a 31-23 commanding lead. 

The Mighty Macs scored the final points of the half so see the Gators going into halftime with a, 31-24 lead. 

In the third quarter, the Gators came out on fire, outscoring the Mighty Macs 15-8 through eight minutes of the quarter.  In the final two minutes, Immaculata went on a short run to cut the Gators' 12-point lead to eight going into the final frame, 48-40.

After chipping away at the Notre Dame lead, Immaculata tied the score at 50 apiece with just under five minutes remaining in the game.  Two clutch free-throws by Walrath helped regain the lead, 52-50.  The Gators went on the free-throw line five times to close out the game.   

After not shooting a free-throw in the first half against the Mighty Macs, free-throws helped secure the win as the team went 8-for-10 to close out the fourth quarter.  Their last field goal was posted by Walrath with just over eight to play in the fourth. 

With nine seconds remaining in the game, Fletcher posted two free-throws to keep the game out of reach.  Gators move to 4-5 with the 58-54 win over Immaculata.

Fletcher and Fitchett both posted their first career double-doubles with Fletcher posting 16 points and 10 rebounds and Fitchett with 10 points and 11 rebounds.  Fletcher's 16 points tied her career-high set last season, while her 10 rebounds were a season-high.  Her 16 points were backed by four three-pointers.

Walrath posted 14 points in the win, with four of her points coming off free-throws late in the fourth.  She also posted three assists and went 2-for-2 from three-point range.

Green and Walrath paced the team, posting three assists each, while the team finished with 11. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Notre Dame hosts their final game of 2018 on Tuesday against Wesley College for a 7:00 p.m. start time.