Womens Basketball: Ratay leads Irish to comeback win over Friars
By JOE HETTLER
Sports Editor
Notre Dame allowed Providence to begin the game on a 12-2 run Sunday afternoon, then let Alicia Ratay take over.
Ratay scorched the Friars for 30 points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds, while igniting a 32-4 run that helped the Irish beat Providence 67-61.
"Alicia just had a great game," Irish coach Muffet McGraw said. "We were really looking for her today and she came through."
Ratay tied a career-high by knocking down seven 3-pointers, one shy of the Notre Dame record of eight. She hit six of her first seven threes and ended the day 7-9 from behind the arc.
Jacqueline Batteast was the only other Notre Dame player to reach double figures in scoring, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists.
McGraw said she was content with the number of shots all her players took during the game.
"I think we're doing a much better job of getting more people involved offensively," McGraw said.
The Irish had all seven players take at least five shots each, led by Ratay's 12 attempts.
The Friars had four players score in double figures, including Jessica Simmonds and Kristen Quinn who both had a team-high 15 points.
After falling behind by 10 early, Notre Dame cut the lead to 27-22 with 7 minutes, 30 seconds left in the first half. The Irish then used the next 12:30 to totally dominate the Friars in every aspect of basketball, en route to their 32-4 spurt. Providence could only manage two field goals during that stretch and when it was finally over, Notre Dame had a comfortable 52-31 lead.
But the Friars didn't quit, and cut the lead to 63-51 with 2:30 remaining.
After nailing two 3-pointers, Providence trimmed the Notre Dame lead to just four points with seven seconds remaining. Ratay then got fouled and calmly sunk her two free throws to clinch the game for the Irish.
The win improved Notre Dame's record to 15-8 overall, 7-5 in conference play. It was also Notre Dame's fourth victory in their last five contests and put them in sole possession of sixth place in the Big East standings.
"Our confidence is much better," McGraw said. "We're playing well together and it seems to be working."
The Irish now have an entire week off from games until they travel to face No.1 Connecticut Sunday. Notre Dame lost to the Huskies 72-53 Jan. 20 at the Joyce Center in the first of two meetings this season between the two clubs.
As of Sunday night, Connecticut had won 63 straight games, with their last loss coming against Notre Dame in 2001.
McGraw is giving the team Monday and Tuesday off from practice and will use the rest of the week to tinker with the new 1-3-1 defense and add any other new schemes to the game plan.
All Sports Stories for Monday, February 17, 2003
