Feb 19, 2002
By TOM COYNE
AP Sports Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Alicia Ratay scored 20 of her season-high 31 points in the second half, and No. 22 Notre Dame dominated inside to beat West Virginia 72-63 Tuesday night.
The victory was the eighth straight for the Irish (18-7, 12-2 Big East), ensuring them of a bye in the first round of the conference tournament. West Virginia (14-11, 6-8) dropped to 0-6 against ranked teams.
Despite playing without Jacqueline Batteast, Notre Dame’s leading scorer and rebounder, for the second straight game because of a partially torn ligament in her right knee, the Irish had a 47-35 rebounding edge.
That led to 18 second-chance points for Notre Dame. The Mountaineers had 11.
Ericka Haney also set a season high with 15 points for the Irish.
Ratay, who fell a point shy of her career best, hit a 3-pointer to give Notre Dame a 41-32 lead.
But Kate Bulger and Sherell Sowho answered with 3-pointers to start a 14-9 spurt by the Mountaineers, who closed to 50-46 on a three-point play by Bulger with 11:29 left.
Le’Tania Severe scored a fast-break layup to spark an 11-2 run as the Irish opened a 59-48 lead. But a three-point play by Yolanda Paige and three free throws by Sowho started an 8-0 surge by the Mountaineers to close to 59-56.
Ratay hit a 3-pointer to stop the West Virginia rally, then added a three-point play as the Irish put the game out of reach with a 10-1 run.
Ratay and Haney added six rebounds each for the Irish, who led 34-26 at halftime. Severe had 12 points and nine rebounds.
Bulger led the Mountaineers with 17 points. Paige had 14 points and eight assists, and Sowho added 13 points.