BALTIMORE, Md. - Trailing the Notre Dame of Maryland University Gators by seven points with 1:04 remaining in this afternoon's game, the Ravens applied solid defensive pressure and made clutch shots down the stretch to steal the game from Notre Dame by a final score of 65-63. The Ravens improved their record to 8-10 (4-8 CSAC). The decision leaves the Gators still searching for their first win of the season (0-16, 0-11 CSAC).
When the two teams last met only ten days ago, the Ravens ran out to a big lead and defeated the Gators by 39 points. Today's game had a totally different complexion. Rosemont's first possession did end up with Ashley Montecchio (Jr./Sun Valley/Aston, Pa.) draining a trey to put the Ravens up 3-0, but the Gators came back on a three-pointer of their own from Sasha Vassel. No, this was not the game of ten days ago.
Notre Dame took their first lead at 9-7 with 13:55 left in the half. The Gators would extend their lead to ten points at 28-18 with 2:26 left in the first. The Ravens would outscore Notre Dame 9-1 to reduce the home side's lead to 29-27 at the half.
Two free throws from Liz Coyne (Fr./Downingtown West/West Chester, Pa.) tied the game at 29-29 early in the half but the Gators again pulled out to a six point lead only seconds later. It took three minutes for the Ravens to put together a 6-0 run to again tie the score, 35-35 with 16:12 left. The Ravens continued to build on their momentum, ending their run at 15 points to go ahead 44-35 with 14:55 still left.
The Ravens would hold their lead until the 6:22 mark when a jumper by the Gator's Imani Stokes tied the game at 51-51 with 6:22 left. The teams would be tied again at 53-53 with 4:14 remaining. At that point Notre Dame went on a 7-0 run to take a seven-point lead, 60-53 with 2:27 left. The home team still led by what appeared to be a solid seven points, 63-56 with 1:04 remaining.
Rosemont would not give up any more points in that last 1:04. A layup from Coyne got the Ravens to within five points with 53 seconds left. Two free throws by Montecchio pulled the Ravens to within three with 36 seconds left. A steal by Coyne led to a key shot from downtown by the Ravens' Alex Gravinese (Fr./Audubon, NJ) to tie the game at 63-63 with 35 seconds left. The Gators missed a layup and a feed to Montecchio led to a foul, putting Montecchio at the line where she sank her two free throws to account for the winning margin for the day.
Gravinese led all scorers with 20 points. Coyne scored 16 and added 12 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season. Montecchio had 13 points and 10 boards for her ninth double-double of the campaign.
The Gators placed four players in double-figures. India Scott scored 19 to lead Notre Dame. She was helped out by Imani Stokes (16), Sasha Vassel (16) and Nicole Brown (10). Stokes and Scott each were credited with 13 rebounds to earn double-doubles for the game.
The Ravens were effective at the foul line this afternoon, making 21 of 28 chances compared to Notre Dame's 11 for 16 from the charity stripe.
Rosemont's next contest is on Wednesday, 2/1 at Cabrini College in the first game of a doubleheader. The women's game is scheduled to tip-off at 6:00pm.