BALTIMORE, MD – Ayana Brim's second double-double effort against Cairn (8-8, 6-5 CSAC) this season landed the Notre Dame of Maryland basketball team (8-8, 8-4 CSAC) a 63-58 win on Wednesday evening. The Gators dominated the glass with Daija Fitchett posting career-highs and tying the program record for second-most rebounds and blocks in a single game (22 rebounds, 6 blocks). CSAC Player of the Week, Alexis Durham, was huge with 18 points and eight assists to close out the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Durham had the first of two threes to get the scoring started for the Gators. Durham went on to finish with 18 points and eight assists.
• The Gators fell behind by as many as seven points, down 15-8 with just over two minutes in the quarter. Notre Dame (Md.) closed the gap to just four scores to end the first quarter. 
• During the second, Cairn was held to nine points and Fitchett stayed to impose her will in the paint. She had 10 rebounds and one block at the half. 
• Durham had seven points and three assists as the Gators trailed 25-27. The Gators were 9-of-12 from the line despite both teams shooting under 35 percent. 
• In the third, Notre Dame fought back into the game with Durham at the center of it all, finding her open teammates. The Gators tied the game at 31-31 with 8:11 to play after a rejection from Fitchett led to a Bethani Newbold midrange jumper. Newbold finished with 10 rebounds to her name.
• The Highlanders were quick to answer back with a deep three but Durham had an answer of her own for Gator hopefuls. Her second triple would even the game back at 34 apiece. 
• Brim and Fitchett's presence on the interior anchored the Gators to a 15-9 quarter. Notre Dame would take a 40-36 lead into the final period. 
• Notre Dame was quick to extend its lead in the fourth. Brim scored three consecutive baskets and Chantel Curry delivered a dagger with 7:46 remaining to give NDMU a 49-38 lead. 
• Fitchett's three blocks down the stretch were good enough to hold off the Highlanders. Brim had 10 points in the quarter and Durham added eight points to secure the win.

 
OF NOTE

• Notre Dame is 5-0 in its last five contests. NDMU's eight wins are the second-most in the conference.
• Fitchett gets her 11th double-double of the season. The reigning Defensive Player of the Week's final stat line was  10 points, 22 rebounds, six blocks, and two steals. She leads the league averaging almost two blocks per game. 
• She jumps Gabrielle Ferrell (1999-03) and Jennifer Chaney (1993-97) to become 4th all-time leading rebounder in program history. Fitchett is now 54 rebounds shy of tying Zaria Comer for third place on the all-time list.
• Brim has three double-doubles this season. She had 18 points, 17 rebounds performance when the Gators hosted Crain earlier this season (12/08/21).
• The Gators 61 rebounds are the most against a single opponent this year.
• Durham has four games under her belt with eight or more assists. She's second in the league at 5.1 assists per game. 
• Gators move to 10-9 all-time against the Highlanders.

 
UP NEXT
Notre Dame (Md.) will travel to Bryn Athyn next Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. Watch and follow live stats at Notredamegators.com. Follow the basketball program on Twitter and Instagram (@NDMGatorSports) and catch all things Gators on the Gators Network.