Nov 18, 2001
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- Irish women’s head coach
By TOM COYNE
Associated Press Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Freshman Teresa Borton had 14 points and nine rebounds as No. 15 Notre Dame, after unfurling its national championship banner, beat Valparaiso 42-35 Sunday.
The Irish won their 39th straight home game in the season opener for both teams.
The 42 points were the fewest ever in an Irish victory. The school record for the lowest point total is 39.
Valparaiso closed to 35-33 when Amber Schober made a free throw with 6:34 left and later had a chance to move ahead, but Katie Boone missed a free throw.
Borton than hit a left-handed hook with 5:11 left to give the Irish a 37-33 lead.
The Irish went ahead 40-34 when Borton scored inside with 1:54 left and the Crusaders couldn’t get any closer than five points.
The Crusaders shot only 27.7 percent for the game, including just 22.7 percent in the second half. Notre Dame shot just 32.6 percent and attempted just two 3-pointers, missing both.
Notre Dame started two freshmen for the first time in 20 years and replaced three starters from last year’s 34-2 team.
The Irish, who frequently used six or seven players last season, used nine players on Sunday.
Schober was the only Valparaiso player in double figures. She had 10 points and nine rebounds as the Crusaders dropped to 0-16 against the Irish.
It appeared for a while, though, that the Crusaders might be able to end the streak. The Crusaders went ahead 30-29 when Schober hit a 3-pointer with 14:35 left. The Crusaders didn’t score again for nearly seven minutes, however, to fall behind 35-30.
The Irish opened a 24-13 lead when Alicia Ratay hit a pair of free throws with five minutes left in the first half, but didn’t score again before halftime.
Ratay scored 11 points.