Jan. 29, 2003
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Sophomore forward Jacqueline Batteast posted her sixth double-double of the season, but it was not enough as No. 24 (ESPN/USA Today) Notre Dame dropped a 76-48 decision at No. 25 (ESPN/USA Today) Boston College Wednesday night before a crowd of 3,669 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass. It was the Eagles’ first win over the Irish since 1998, breaking a four-game BC losing streak in the series. It also snapped Notre Dame’s seven-game BIG EAST road winning streak, dating back to last year.
Batteast rolled up 17 points and a season-high 13 rebounds, the most boards by a Notre Dame player this season. Senior guard Alicia Ratay added eight points and a season-best nine rebounds, marking the second consecutive game in which Ratay has matched her season high in rebounds.
Jessalyn Deveny led four Boston College players in double figures with 18 points, all in the second half. Amber Jacobs chipped in with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting, and Becky Gottstein nearly charted a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The teams played virtually even for the first nine minutes, trading the lead five times with four ties. Notre Dame fired the first salvo of the night, going on an 11-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at 21-12 with 5:45 remaining in the first half. However, BC responded with an 11-2 run of its own to pull even at 23-23 with 29 seconds left in the period. A pair of free throws by freshman forward Courtney LaVere would give the Irish a two-point lead at halftime.
Notre Dame (11-7, 3-4 BIG EAST) built on its edge early in the second half, taking a 34-29 lead on a jumper by Batteast with 16:17 to play. That’s when the Eagles took control, going on a 17-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 10-point lead. The Irish made a brief surge and got as close as 51-43 when freshman guard Megan Duffy canned a three-pointer at the 9:22 mark. Boston College then iced the win by scoring 25 of the final 30 points in the game.
The Eagles (14-4, 6-1) were razor sharp in the second half, connecting on 57.6 percent of their shots (19-33). They also sparkled at the foul line, making 13-of-14 free throws (92.9 percent). Meanwhile, Notre Dame was hampered by the loss of junior guard Le’Tania Severe, who was injured midway through the first half and did not return.
The Irish will be back in action Saturday at 5 p.m. (EST) when they welcome West Virginia to the Joyce Center for the second of two meetings between the clubs this season. Notre Dame won the first matchup, 66-59, back on Jan. 8 in Morgantown, rallying from a 14-point second half deficit to pull out the win.
— ND —