Nov. 20, 1999
Box Score
By JOHN SEEWER
Associated Press Writer
TOLEDO, Ohio – Alicia Ratay scored 18 points and Danielle Green added 16 to lead No. 7 Notre Dame over Toledo 68-52 Saturday night in the opener for both teams.
Notre Dame, despite having a height advantage inside, often relied on its outside shooters, hitting 9-of-21 3-pointers.
The Irish were forced to go outside because 6-foot-5 center Ruth Riley, a third team All-American last year, was in foul trouble most of the game.
Riley spent nearly the entire first half on the bench after picking up two fouls in the first two minutes. She got her fourth foul with 15:42 left in the second half and finished with no points.
The Irish, with four starters back from a team that finished 26-5 last season, were in control throughout.
Ratay, a freshman starting her first game, hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Irish a 21-13 lead with 11:44 remaining in the first half. Julie Henderson’s layup with 5:25 in the first half gave Notre Dame a 31-21 lead.
Toledo, which has made six NCAA tournament appearances in the 1990s, never got within 10 points after that.
The Rockets struggled to find its offense early. Toledo lost three starters from last year’s Mid-American Conference championship team, including Kim Knuth, the school’s career scoring leader.
Jennifer Markwood led Toledo with 14 points and Karin Husbeck added 11. They were the only Rockets players in double figures.
Toledo was able to pull within 59-43 with 6:53 left in the game, but Haney then scored on a pair of jumpers and Ratay hit two consecutive 3-pointers to push the Irish out to a 67-43 advantage with 5:30 to play.
Niele Ivey was 3-of-8 behind the 3-point line and finished with 13 points for the Irish while Ericka Haney added 11.