BALTIMORE, Md. – The Gators stay perfect in the Colonial States Athletic Conference after a thrilling victory over Clarks Summit University Saturday afternoon.  Notre Dame went into the fourth quarter with a narrow lead and came out on top, 71-70.
 
The Gators went into the fourth quarter with a 51-50 lead, but the race to the finish line would see five ties and 10 lead changes. 
 
Clutch free throws by freshman Ariana Alleyne in the fourth quarter kept the Gators in the game when Clarks Summit started to pull away.  She went 5-for-5 from the line in the fourth quarter and 9-for-9 for the game. 
 
After the Defenders took a one-point lead off two free throws with 28 seconds left in the game, junior Keyeria Dawson downed a pull-up jumper with nine second remaining to give the Gators their final lead.  As time expired, Notre Dame forced a turnover by CSU to seal the victory, 71-70.
 
In the win, four players posted double-digit scoring, while three players shot 50% or better from the floor.  Junior Adrianna Fletcher and sophomore Daija Fitchett paced the team, each finishing the game with a double-double. 
 
Posting 17 points and 10 rebounds, Fletcher recorded her second career double-double.  She also finished with a career-high five three-pointers.  Fitchett led the team on the boards, reeling in 14, while tallying 12 points.
 
Alleyne paced the team with 19 points against the Defenders.  Over the last three games, she is averaging 17.6 points per game and went a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line.
 
Feeding the offense, the team tallied their second-best assist performance, posting 20.  Freshman Jaylah Lewis led the team with five, followed by Alleyne and Dawson with four assists a piece. 
 
The defensive end, the Gators finished with nine steals, led by Lewis and Dawson with three each.  The Gators also added two blocks.
 
Notre Dame stays perfect in the CSAC at 3-0.  Keystone and the Gators remain the only undefeated teams in conference play.   NDMU is currently third in the CSAC in points (67.8) and defensive rebounds (30.5) per game.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
Next week, the Gators will have a break from action as they wrap up the fall semester during finals week.  They will return to the court on Saturday, December 21, hosting Penn State York at 1:00 p.m.  This game will serve as Notre Dame's final game of 2019.
 
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