BALTIMORE– The Notre Dame of Maryland University women's basketball team advanced to the United East Skye Division Championship game, defeating Cairn University by a score of 65-61 on Monday, Feb. 19.  

The teams were evenly matched throughout the opening quarter, with Amya Durham hitting a pair of jump shots to level the score at 10. The Highlanders pulled ahead at the end of the first quarter, stretching their lead to four early in the second quarter. Hillary Howard and Kathryn DeGrange answered back, finishing layups to close the gap. Chantel Curry then swiped a steal and finished a layup in transition to give NDMU their first lead of the night. The teams then traded the lead with Cairn scoring the final four points of the quarter to hold a 26-22 lead at the break. 

Cairn seized the momentum in the third quarter, using an 11-6 run to build a nine-point lead. Howard hit a pull up jump shot from the foul line to stop the Highlanders' momentum. Elena Rodriguez sparked the momentum in the MBK Sports Complex, swiping a steal in the backcourt, finishing a layup to cut the deficit down to five. Several possessions later, Rodriguez attacked the paint, laying the ball off to Alexis Jones for an easy layup to pull within four. Feeding off the crowd, Durham then swiped a steal at mid-court, slicing toward the basket in transition to bring NDMU within a single possession. Rodriguez gave the Gators the lead, knocking down a 3-pointer from the wing. Howard scored one last layup in transition, putting the Gators ahead 43-40 going into the fourth quarter.  

The Highlanders fought back, leveling the score at 49 points, two minutes into the final frame. Curry found Durham in the lane for an immediate answer, giving the Gators the lead back. The teams exchanged the lead with Howard putting NDMU ahead 55-54 with just over four minutes remaining in the game. Jones and Durham finished back-to-back layups to extend NDMU's lead to five points. Cairn made one final push, closing within two points with :11 seconds remaining. Howard iced the game, converting a pair of free throws, securing the 65-61 victory 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Howard led all scorers with 26 points along with nine rebounds. 

• Durham reached double figures scoring 13 points while dishing out three assists. 

• Jones pulled in a team-high 14 rebounds, and she added six points.  

• Curry dished out a team high five assists 

• Rodriguez provided a much-needed spark scoring six second half points and swiping three steals.  

WHO'S NEXT? 
The Gators will host the United East Skye Division Final where they will face #2 seeded Saint Elizabeth on Wednesday, Feb. 21. The tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM. 
 
STAY CONNECTED 
Fans can keep up with NDMU Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube using the handle @ndmgatorsports.