Dec. 31, 1997
Notre Dame Drops Pittsburgh on New Year's Eve
Game Statistics
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh women's basketball
team lost to Notre Dame, 66-46, in a New Year's Eve day contest. The
victory marks the fourth straight for the Irish and their first Big East
Conference win.
Notre Dame took an early lead with a lay-up by Kelley Siemon at 18:38
and followed with a 3-pointer by Mollie Peirick. Siemon scored her second
lay-up at the 15:58 mark. Alecia Balich (Chino Hills, Calif./Ayala)
responded with a jumper 17 seconds later and added a 3-pointer a minute
later.
The Fighting Irish shot 30 percent (9-30) from the floor, while the
Panthers shot 21 percent (5-24) in the first half. Notre Dame held a 21-17
lead at halftime.
Notre Dame secured their lead by registering 14 points in a five minute
span in the second half, while Pittsburgh netted just two. Pittsburgh
rallied making 9-14 free throws in the half, but could not pull ahead of
the Irish.
The Fighting Irish shot 38 percent (22-58) for the game, while the
Panthers shot 29 percent (15-51). From the free-throw line, Notre Dame shot
74 percent (17-23) compared to Pittsburgh's 65 percent (15-23).
Balich totaled a team-high 11 points for the game, while Sheila
McMillen scored a team-high of 17 for Notre Dame. Peirick added an
additional 11 points in the win.
