Concord Finishes Road Trip Seeking Sweep of Notre Dame

Concord Stats - Notre Dame Stats - Live Stats - Live Video

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University women's basketball team closes its three-game road trip when it visits Notre Dame 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in a Mountain East Conference matchup.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Notre Dame Sports Information Department will have live in-game statistics and live video of Wednesday's game. 

SERIES HISTORY: Notre Dame leads 16-4

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LAST FIVE MEETINGS
December 3, 2022: Concord 77 - Notre Dame 64 (Athens, W.Va.)
March 3, 2022: Notre Dame 69 - Concord 59 (Wheeling, W.Va.)
January 26, 2022: Concord 56 - Notre Dame 50 (Athens, W.Va.)
December 4, 2021: Notre Dame 82 - Concord 78 (2OT) (South Euclid, Ohio)
February 6, 2021: Notre Dame 55 - Concord 53 (South Euclid, Ohio)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 5-12
MEC Record: 3-9
Home Record: 2-4
Away Record: 2-7
Neutral Record: 1-1
 
LIGHT IT UP
In its 78-69 defeat at Glenville State Saturday, the Mountain Lions managed to shoot over 45 percent for a second straight contest. Concord shot a season-best 51.1 percent from the floor last Wednesday at Charleston before following it up at 45.5 percent from the field in its latest game. It marked the first time this season that CU shot 45 percent or better in back-to-back games. Junior guard Jaisah Smith enters Wednesday having shot 12-for-16 from the field (75 percent) in her last two games. Senior forward Lauryn Avery is 6-of-11 from the floor in her last three contests. Freshman forward Abbie Smith is shooting 69.5 percent in her last three games (16-for-23). Notre Dame is allowing teams to shoot 44.7 percent this year—12^th in the MEC.
 
TAKING CARE
Against Glenville State's suffocating pressure, Concord only committed 15 turnovers which was tied for the second fewest in 2022-23 for the Maroon and Gray. Earlier this season, CU overcame 20 turnovers in its 77-64 win over Notre Dame December 3. While Notre Dame does not present an intense full-court press, the Falcons are forcing nearly 19 turnovers per game. NDC did come up with 20 Concord turnovers, but the Falcons only scored 16 points off those. Meanwhile, the Mountain Lions scored 14 points off 14 NDC turnovers. Avery had a team-best three steals, but seven different players had at least one steal versus the Falcons in December.
 
LOCK DOWN
Part of Concord's success versus Glenville State was the fact that the Mountain Lions held GSU to 36.8 percent shooting—the fifth time this season that CU held the opposition below 40 percent from the floor. Though the Mountain Lions didn't hold Notre Dame to less than 40 percent, the Falcons only managed 41.1 percent from the floor at the Carter Center. NDC only shoots 37.3 percent from the field this season which ranks 11^th in the MEC. Included in CU's defensive effort versus Notre Dame was the Maroon and Gray holding the Falcons to less than 30 percent shooting in each of the first two quarters (8-for-29 / 27.5 percent) combined.
 
WIRE TO WIRE
Because of the tenacious defense, Concord ran out to a 26-13 lead in its December win over Notre Dame, never trailing in the game. It was the only time this season that CU had five double-figure scorers. Junior guard Maddie Ratcliff and A. Smith combined to go 12-for-18 from the field as Ratcliff scored a team-best 15 points. A. Smith added 12. Junior guard Nakaila Gray recorded 12 points. Senior guard Jazz Blankenship and graduate guard Maggie Guynn each scored 10 points in the win. The Mountain Lions scored 40 of their 77 points in the paint versus Notre Dame. And with the high percentage shooting, Concord shot 46.8 for the game. If CU shoots above 45 percent Wednesday night, it would be the first time since February 2021 that Concord shoots at least 45 percent in three consecutive games.
 
DISTINCT ADVANTAGE
Though Concord was outrebounded 42-30 at Glenville State Saturday afternoon, the Mountain Lions are fifth in the MEC in rebounding margin (+1.1). Meanwhile, Notre Dame is 12^th in rebounding margin (-9.3). CU had its largest rebounding margin of the season versus Notre Dame (+23 / 48-25). Avery, graduate forward Alexis Phillips and A. Smith combined to grab more rebounds—10 each—than Notre Dame as a team. Avery and A. Smith both had five offensive rebounds as Concord turned 16 offensive boards into 19 second-chance points. Gray threw in six rebounds versus the Falcons. Notre Dame has only won the rebounding battle five times this season, and has been outrebounded by 20 three times.
 
SO CLOSE
CU has only won once inside Murphy Gymasnium—a double-digit, second-half comeback during its record-setting 23-win season in 2018-19. However, the Maroon and Gray have nearly gotten the Falcons in each of their last two visits to northeast Ohio. In December 2021, Concord was unable to hang onto a late lead in the first overtime, falling 82-78 in double overtime. J. Smith poured in a then-career best 23 points. Guynn added 15 points as she played 47 of the 50 minutes. Two years ago, the Mountain Lions got out to a 21-15 lead on Notre Dame, but were held to 32 points over the final 30 minutes as NDC won 55-53. CU did hold the Falcons to 31 percent shooting, but committed 21 turnovers. Ratcliff tallied 11 points off the bench.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4- Saturday marked the fourth time this season that CU had four or more players in double figures.
 
42- Points scored by Concord's bench in the December win over Notre Dame.
 
90- Points needed by Guynn to reach 1,500 for her career, currently 28^th among active Division II players.

NOTRE DAME AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 5-13
MEC Record: 4-8
Home Record: 3-4
Away Record: 2-7
Neutral Record: 0-2
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Karli Anker's five three-pointers paced the NDC offense in December as she scored 19 points. Alana Ellis, the MEC's seventh-leading scorer at 17.1 points per game, netted 15 points at Concord. Notre Dame snapped a four-game losing streak with a 73-67 home win over Alderson Broaddus Saturday afternoon. Ellis is coming off a 20-point game versus AB while Noel Weathers posted a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds. NDC has yet to win consecutive games this season.