ATHENS, W.Va. – A late second-half surge ultimately doomed the Concord University women's basketball as they fell to Notre Dame, 76-62, at the Carter Center Saturday afternoon in Mountain East Conference play.
The first half of action saw a total of four lead changes and nine ties as both teams grabbed five-point lead, but either could separate themselves from the other. Concord (5-14, 5-9 MEC) jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the early going. From the 14:48 mark to the 3:12 mark of the first half, the teams played the game within a three-point margin.
Notre Dame (12-7, 8-6 MEC) took an eight-point lead, 41-33, into halftime.
Concord scored the first five points of the second half to close with three points, 41-38. Senior forward
Rachel Artrip and junior forward
Kylie Molisee each scored two points in that span.
The Mountain Lions wouldn't allow NDC to get a lead bigger than eight points. Down 48-40, CU once against used a 7-1 to close within two points with 11:54 left. Molisee (four points) and sophomore guard
Olivia Morgan combined for the Concord points.
However, it was closest Concord would get as the Falcons ran their lead out to 13 points with 5:56 as they went on to win by 14.
Molisee notched a career-high 20 points as she shot 10-for-15 from the field. Senior forward
Jacqueline Kestner finished with her ninth double-double of the season as she totaled 11 and 10 rebounds. Eight of Kestner's points came from the charity stripe.
Concord and Notre Dame finished even in points in the pain (28-28). The Mountain Lions shot better from the free-throw line (76.0-75.0) than NDC.
Concord will host Urbana 5:30 p.m. Monday.
