BALTIMORE, MD - Notre Dame of Maryland battled throughout but couldn't overcome a decisive fourth-quarter surge by Penn State Harrisburg, falling 63–53 in United East women's basketball action Tuesday at the MBK Athletic Complex.
The Gators led after the opening quarter and stayed within striking distance for much of the afternoon, but Penn State Harrisburg outscored Notre Dame 20–19 in the final period to pull away late. The loss dropped Notre Dame to 6–7 overall and 3–1 in conference play.
Thalia Kayiranga led the Gators with 18 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, providing a strong presence in the paint on both ends of the floor.
Madison Simmons added nine points, while
Raina Burns and
Marecia Barnett each chipped in eight. Notre Dame controlled the glass with a 45–36 rebounding advantage but struggled to convert second-chance opportunities.
Penn State Harrisburg was paced by Mikayla Coleman, who scored a game-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Allison Metzgar added 13 points off the bench, including three key three-pointers, and Akira Cho contributed 11 points as the Lions shot 49 percent from the field and 45 percent from beyond the arc.
The game featured six ties and two lead changes early, with Notre Dame holding a slim edge after the first quarter. Penn State Harrisburg seized momentum in the second and third quarters behind efficient perimeter shooting, taking a five-point lead into the final period. The Gators made several pushes late but were unable to string together enough stops to close the gap.
Notre Dame will look to regroup on a short turnaround as they host Salisbury on Wednesday, January 14 at 5 PM.