Providence College Athletics
Providence College
Notre Dame
Women's Basketball Falls To No.1 Notre Dame
1/31/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 31, 2001
By TOM COYNE
Associated Press Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Ruth Riley scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half and Notre Dame overcome a slow start and its biggest deficit of the season to beat Providence 64-44 Wednesday night for its 20th straight win straight.
The Irish, playing at home for the first time since beating Connecticut two weeks ago to take over the No. 1 ranking, was sloppy at the start, turning the ball over nine times in the first 12 minutes and making just 5 of 18 shots. When Providence's Jen Gombotz scored inside with 6:14 left in the first half to give Providence an 18-11 lead, it was the most the Irish had trailed by all season, exceeding the six-point deficit they faced in the second half against Georgia in the fourth game of the season.
But the Irish responded with a 15-2 run to end the half, with Niele Ivey and Erica Haney scoring six points each. Ivey started the run with a 3-pointer with 4:34 left and had two steals during the stretch, stripping Brooke Freeburg to set up a layup by Haney with 2:45 left that gave the Irish a 21-20 lead. That steal was the 308th of Ivey's career, breaking the school record set by Irish assistant coach Coquese Washington.
The 26 points at the half were the fewest for the Irish since losing to then-No. 1 Connecticut 77-59 on Feb. 20, 2000.
The Irish remained in control throughout the second half as Riley, who sat out 10 minutes in the first half with two fouls, dominated inside. During one stretch she scored 10 of Notre Dame's 11 points.
But it was when her teammates got more involved that the Irish put the game away with a 16-0 run to open a 61-39 lead. Riley's two free throws started the spurt, but four others also scored during the run.
Haney had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Irish. Ivey had 12 points and four steals and Riley added five blocked shots.
Jenese Wilcox led Providence with 12 points and eight rebounds and Dani Trippany had 11 points.
The 20 straight victories by the Irish matches the school record set last season as they became just the seventh team to put together back-to-back seasons with 20-straight wins.
