BALTIMORE, Md. – The Notre Dame of Maryland University women's basketball team used a big second half to roll to a decisive 68-45 non-conference victory over Goucher at the Marion Burk Knott Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 17. 
 
Kori People led the way with a team-high 14 points, while Alexis Durham nearly recorded a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Alexis Jones chipped in with a dozen points off the bench.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gators (7-3) erased an early 4-0 deficit by putting together an 11-2 run capped by a jumper from Amya Durham with 2:48 left in the opening quarter. NDMU stretched the lead to 16-10 early in the second when Jasimine Gardner converted a layup off an assist from Chantel Curry but the Gophers (2-8) used a 7-0 spurt to pull back in front midway through the frame. 
 
Three free throws from Alexis Durham put the Gators back in front before back-to-back jumpers from Bethani Newbold and Alexis Durham made it 23-17 at the 3:16 mark. Things remained close heading into the break, with the home team holding a 27-24 advantage at halftime.
 
After a back-and-forth start to the third stanza, NDMU closed out the quarter with a dominant 13-5 run that included six free throws from Kori People to balloon the lead to a more-comfortable 52-35 heading into the final quarter.
 
The Gators used three more free throws to push the advantage to 20 less than a minute into the fourth quarter before a People 3-pointer and a layup from Alexis Jones gave the home team it's largest lead of the game at 68-42 with two and a half minutes left to play. 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Notre Dame of Maryland University shot 38.5 percent from the field. 
- The Gators got to the foul line 35 times, sinking 26 free throws. 
- The NDMU bench outscored the Goucher reserves 28-5. 
- People went 11-for-12 from the foul line en route to scoring a team-high 14 points. 
- The Gators edged Goucher in the battle on the glass (36-35).
- Alexis Durham finished one rebound shy of a double-double to go along with 13 points. 
- Jones shot 50 percent from the floor and netted a dozen points off the bench. 
- Daija Fitchett finished with eight points, seven boards, and three blocks. 
- Amya Durham added six points, two rebounds, and two assists in a reserve role. 
- Bethani Newbold and Chantel Curry chipped in with five points apiece.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
The Gators have a two-week break before returning to action at conference foe Saint Elizabeth on Tuesday night, Jan. 3. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

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