BALTIMORE- The Notre Dame of Maryland women's basketball team could not hold off a second half charge by Randolph-Macon College, falling by a score of 57-54 on Tuesday, November 15 in the MBK Sport Complex. The Gators offense was led by Alexis Durham who finished the game with 17 points. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Yellow Jackets (1-3 overall) jumped out to an early 7-2 lead as the Gators (1-2 overall) settled into the game. Daija Fitchett put back an offensive rebound to cut the deficit down to three. On the next possession, Kori People connected on a 3-pointer from the wing to tie the game at seven. Randolph-Macon responded, going on a 9-0 to recapture the momentum. Trailing by 12, Durham drilled a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to make the score 21-12 going to the second quarter. 
 
The Gators began chipping away at the deficit with Michel Rivera knocking down a 3-pointer to open the quarter. Jasimine Gardner scored a layup in the post and then People converted a steal into a layup to bring NDMU back within four points. The Yellow Jackets stretched the lead back to eight midways through the quarter. Durham sparked a run, swishing back-to-back 3-pointers, making the score 27-25. People added two more 3-pointers, putting NDMU ahead by two with 3:07 to go in the half.  The Gators scored the final eight points of the first half capped off by a buzzer-beating jump shot from People to send the Gators into the half ahead by 39-29. 
 
Randolph-Macon controlled the third quarter, using an 11-2 run to open the half to pull back within a single point. Newbold halted the rally knocking down a jump shot from the top of the key. After the Yellow Jackets recaptured a two-point lead, Durham closed the quarter by hitting a jumper, knotting the score at 48 heading into the final quarter. 
 
The Yellow Jackets scored the first six points of the quarter, but Ayana Brim kept the Gators within striking distance by finishing a layup in the paint. Durham cut the deficit down to two with just over five minutes to play. Both offenses ground to a halt, with neither team able to find the bottom of the basket for the next three minutes. Trailing by five with under a minute to play, Brim finished a layup to pull the Gators within a single position. NDMU's defense got the stop they needed, but the Gators could not find a tying basket, falling 57-54.  
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Durham finished the game with 17 points including three 3-pointers. 
• People reached double figures, scoring 15 points. She also led the team in rebounds with seven
• Newbold added nine points on 4-6 shooting from the field
• Randolph-Macon held a 41-36 edge in rebounds
• The Yellow Jackets were led in scoring by Jane Elkins who had 17 points

 
WHO'S NEXT
The Gators will hit the road to take on Trinity (DC) on Saturday, November 19 with the tip-off scheduled for 2:00 p.m.