Providence College Athletics
Providence College
9-14, 3-9
Notre Dame
15-8, 7-5
Women's Basketball Gives Notre Dame A Scare
2/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2003
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's basketball team fell to Notre Dame, 67-61, in a BIG EAST Conference match-up on Sunday afternoon in Providence, R.I. Sophomore forward Jessica Simmonds (South Orange, N.J.) and junior guard Kristin Quinn (Sewell, N.J.) each scored 15 points to lead Providence. Notre Dame was led offensively by senior guard Alicia Ratay, who netted a game-high 30 points on nine-of-12 shooting from the field, including seven-of-nine from beyond the three-point arc.
In the first half, the Friars jumped out to a 10-point lead (12-2) with 16:44 on the clock. However, Notre Dame gathered its composure and began to slowly chip away at the lead. With 7:35 remaining in the first period, the Irish exploded on a 20-2 scoring run to close out the half and take a 42-29 lead into the lockerroom.
In the second half, PC found itself trailing by 21 points (52-31) with 14:57 remaining in the game, as the Irish opened the half with a 10-2 run. Providence cut the lead to nine (56-47) with 6:11 remaining in the game on a 16-4 scoring spree, but the Irish quickly responded and pushed their lead back up to 12 points (63-51) with 2:45 remaining. The Friars refused to die, as they rallied to cut the lead to as little as four points (65-61) with seven seconds remaining in the game, but Ratay knocked down two free-throws for the Irish with five seconds on the clock to seal the win. Ratay was perfect from the foul line on the day, connecting on five-of-five attempts.
Joining Simmonds and Quinn in double figures for Providence were seniors Andrea Horvath (Sopron, Hungary) and Brooke Freeburg (Waterford, Pa.). The duo scored 11 points each, while Freeburg added seven rebounds. Sophomore forward Quiana Copeland (Mattapan, Mass.) pulled down a game-high nine rebounds for the Friars in the losing effort.
Joining Ratay in double figures for Notre Dame was forward Jacqueline Batteast. Ratay also led the team with seven rebounds, followed by Batteast who pulled down six boards.
Providence (9-14, 3-9 BIG EAST) returns to action on Wednesday, February 19 in Syracuse, N.Y. as they take on the Orangewomen of Syracuse University in BIG EAST Conference action at 7:00 p.m.
