Nov 26, 2001
By TOM COYNE
Associated Press Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Jacqueline Batteast had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Le’Tania Severe added 13 points to lead No. 23 Notre Dame to an 89-57 victory Monday night over Army.
The Irish snapped a two-game losing streak, their longest in four years, and extended their home winning streak to 40 games.
Alicia Ratay added 12 points, making 4 of 6 shots from 3-point range in the first half, to help key a 15-2 run as the Irish (2-2) took control midway through the first half. Army (1-4) never mounted a challenge.
Katie Macfarlane led the Black Knights with 13 points and eight rebounds. Christina Canelli added 11 points.
It was the first easy game for the defending national champions. Notre Dame lost at Colorado State and at Arizona to fall to No. 23, their lowest ranking since finishing the 1997-98 season unranked. That was also the last time the Irish lost consecutive games, falling to Rutgers, Connecticut and Wisconsin in December of that season.
The Irish were never in danger of losing three straight on Monday, though. Army went on an 8-0 run to tie it at 18 when Amy Saal converted a three-point play and scored inside, and Canelli hit a 3-pointer.
But Ratay hit back-to-back 3-pointers to spark a 15-2 run that gave the Irish a 33-20. She hit her fourth 3-pointer at 5:38.
The Irish led 47-31 at halftime, their most points in a half this season. In their season-opening victory against Valparaiso, the Irish scored only 42 for the game.
Notre Dame opened a 75-49 lead in the second half when Allison Bustamante scored with 5:56 left, leading Irish coach Muffet McGraw to pull the starters.