BALTIMORE – The Notre Dame of Maryland basketball team received double-doubles from its front-court tandem on Wednesday evening but the Gators came up a bucket shot in the 64-63 loss to Cairn University (5-5, 3-2 CSAC). The loss will drop the Gators a bit in the CSAC standings as the team moves to (3-6, 3-2 CSAC) on Wednesday evening. 


HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bethani Newbold got the scoring started with a smooth finish at the rim. Ayana Brim started her night with a layup to lift the Gators up 4-0. She had four early points in the quarter and three offense boards to lead the Gators.  
• With the Gators up 10-6, Chantel Curry drained a corner three to give Notre Dame a 13-6 lead. Daija Fitchett got going late in the quarter and led all scorers with six after one.
• Notre Dame started the second quarter on a 7-0 run led by Alexis Durham creating off the penetration. She scored the Gators first field-goal and then found Brim and Amya Durham for the easy score. She had a game-high of seven assists. 
• Brim took charge of the Notre Dame offense with strong finishes down in the post. She had eight points in the second and led all scorers on the evening with 18 points. 
• In the third quarter, Alexis Durham got rolling with two straight baskets followed by a nice find on the pick-and-pop to Fitchett. The Gators led by as many as 11 points with 9:02 to play. 
• The Highlanders started to chip into the Gators lead to erase an 11-point deficit down 40-30 with 9:02 to play in the early stages of the third quarter. 
• After knocking down a pair of free throws, Amya Durham found Brim for her sixth field goal, pushing Notre Dame's lead back to 11 points, 45-34. 
• Cairn tied the game at 45-45 with just under three minutes remaining. Fitchett and Amya Durham both drove to the net for quick buckets to recapture a 49-45 lead with under two minutes in the third.
• The Highlanders jumped out to a 55-51 lead as the fourth quarter started to wind down. Amya Durham's effort on both ends and Brim's strength down low brought the Gators back 57-57. After a late push from the Highlander to extend their lead to 64-57, a late three-pointer from Newbold and Amya Durham allowed  the Gators to get  the last look for the win. 

OF NOTE

• Amya Durham was in double-figures for the third time this season. She ended the night with 13 points, five steals, and four assists.  
• Fitchett collected her sixth double-double (13 points, 16 rebounds) of the season and has now rebounded in double-figures for the eighth consecutive time this season. Her 16 rebounds are the most in a single game this season. Fitchett also recorded a steal for the seventh consecutive game. She has 15 blocks on the season. 
• Brim went for a career-high 17 rebounds in her second double-double performance of the season.

UP NEXT

Notre Dame (Md.) will take a three-week break before returning to action at Goucher College on Thursday, December 30  at 7 p.m. Watch and follow live stats at Notredamegators.com. Follow the basketball program on Twitter and Instagram and catch all things Gators on the Gators Network.