BOX SCORE
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. A last second three-point attempt to tie was just off the mark as Notre Dame defeated the Seton Hall women’s basketball team, 64-61. The Pirates (9-4, 1-1) saw their four-game winning streak snapped by the Fighting Irish (10-4, 1-0).
Seniors Monique Blake (Union, N.J.) and Heta Korpivaara (Espoo, Finland) each scored 14 points to lead Seton Hall. Freshman Ashley Booker (Oceanside, Calif.) was also in double figures with 10.
Charel Allen posted a double-double to lead Notre Dame, collecting 16 points and 10 boards. Breona Gray netted 14.
With the game tied early on, a Booker jumpshot sparked a 10-0 spurt that saw the Pirates gain an 18-8 advantage with 11:13 to go in the first half. After the Fighting Irish responded with a matching spurt to draw even, Booker, Blake, and Korpivaara hit consecutive shots to push the lead back to six. Notre Dame remained close before tying the game at 30 on Gray’s half court heave as time expired in the opening stanza.
The Fighting Irish kept the momentum out of the break, and a lay-up by Tulyah Gaines at the 15:28 mark gave the visitors a 44-37 lead. Seton Hall recovered as Jadis Rhodin (Lakehurst, N.J.) scored to cut the deficit to two four minutes later.
Noteisha Womack (Ft. Washington, Md.) tied the game with a bucket in the paint, and two Blake free throws put the Pirates back ahead at 54-52 with 5:48 left. The teams traded the lead three more times before a Gaines basket gave the Irish a 60-57 advantage with 2:40 left.
The Pirates played catch up down the stretch, closing to within three on a Korpivaara score with 12 seconds left. After Gaines missed the front end of a one-and-one, Seton Hall had a final chance to tie, but Rhodin’s three was off the rim as time expired.
Rhodin had a team-high seven boards for the Pirates, who were outrebounded 39-38. Seton Hall shot 43.9 percent from the floor to Notre Dame’s 42.4 percent.
The Pirates return to action on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. tip at Louisville.
