BALTIMORE, MD - Notre Dame of Maryland used a decisive third-quarter surge to secure a 68–61 victory over Penn College on Saturday afternoon at the MBK Athletic Complex, remaining unbeaten in United East play.

After a slow offensive start, the Gators found their rhythm as the game wore on, improving to 5-6 overall and 2–0 in conference action. Penn College held a 32–27 lead at halftime, but Notre Dame flipped the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Wildcats 24–12 to seize control heading into the final period.

Amani Watts delivered a dominant performance in the paint, finishing with a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds. The senior shot 12-of-18 from the field and repeatedly powered Notre Dame through key stretches as momentum swung in the Gators' favor. Marecia Barnett provided a major spark from the perimeter, knocking down four three-pointers on her way to 13 points, including a crucial triple late in the fourth quarter.

Madison Simmons added 11 points, five assists and five steals, anchoring Notre Dame's pressure defense that forced 21 Penn College turnovers and led to 27 points off those miscues. Raina Burns chipped in nine points and was steady at the free-throw line in the closing minutes as the Gators sealed the win.

Penn College was led by Gigi Parlante's 23 points, but Notre Dame's defense tightened after halftime, limiting the Wildcats' second-chance opportunities and controlling the glass during critical stretches.

In a tightly contested fourth quarter, Notre Dame leaned on its composure and execution, converting 8-of-12 free throws in the final period to keep Penn College at bay. A late fast-break layup by Watts punctuated the win and capped off a balanced, resilient performance.

With the victory, the Gators continue to stay atop the United East Conference standings. They will put that pristine conference record on the line at Gallaudet University on Wednesday, January 7 with a 7 PM tip off scheduled. The Bison come into the game with a 1-9 overall record and are 0-2 in conference play with losses against St. Mary's and Cedar Crest. The two teams last met in 2023 with Gallaudet winning that contest by the score of 58-55.