Feb. 15, 1998
Notre Dame Notches Ninth Straight Win at Home as Irish Down Pittsburgh 75-60
Game Statistics
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Notre Dame women's basketball team won its ninth
straight home game this afternoon as the Irish held off visiting Pittsburgh
75-60 at the Joyce Center. Sheila McMillen and Mollie Peirick led the Irish
with 16 points each as Notre Dame improved to 16-7 overall and 10-5 in the BIG
EAST.
The Irish struggled from the field all afternoon and hit just 24-of-their 65
shot attempts for 36.9 percent accuracy from the field and was held to just 27.8
percent (5-18) from three-point range. The Panther, who fell to 5-19 overall
and 2-14 in league play, shot 43.8 percent, hitting 21-48 from the field, but
committed 22 turnovers in the game.
Notre Dame, which at times looked like it was going to open the game up against
Pittsburgh, did not pull away until late in the game.
The Irish jumped out to a 6-0 lead, only to have the Panthers come back with an
8-0 run of their own. The two teams exchanged baskets, but Notre Dame was able
to open up a six-point lead on Kari Hutchinson's three-pointer with 20 seconds
left before intermission.
Leading 31-17 at the break, Notre Dame held the Panthers scoreless for more than
five minutes in the second half and built a 14-point lead. Pittsburgh scored
its point of the second half on a Nickeia Morris free throw, but did not net its
first field until the 11:39 mark of the second half when Alecia Balich, nailed a
three-pointer to pull Pittsburgh to within nine 44-35.
After two free throws by Peirick which made the score 46-35 with 11:06 left to
play in the contest, the Panthers went on a 9-2 to cut the Notre Dame lead to
48-44 with 8:23 left to play in the game.
MacMillen nailed to free throws to put the Irish up by six and then hit a
four-point play after being fouled by Gina Montesano with 7:40 remaining in the
contest.
Pittsburgh was able to pull to within six (56-50) with 5:21 left, but Notre Dame
closed out the contest by outscoring the Panthers 19-10.
Ruth Riley recorded her second consecutive double-double and seventh of the
season as she finished with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Riley, Notre
Dame's fourth-leading scorer, was held scoreless int. second half. Danielle
Green was the fourth Irish player in double figures as she also netted 10
points.
Monique Toney and Kenosha Chastang were the only two players in double figures
scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Morris finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Her
seventh blocked shots ties the Notre Dame record for most blocked shots by an
opponent.
Today's win over the Panthers was the 10th victory for the Irish this season at
the Joyce Center and marked the third consecutive season and seventh time in 21
campaigns that they have won 10 or more games at home.
Notre Dame completes its three-game homestand on Wednesday night, February 18
when the Irish host Georgetown at 7:00 p.m.
