Nov. 9, 2003
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Junior forward Katy Flecky (Lone Tree, Colo./Highlands Ranch HS) scored a game-high 21 points and junior forward Jacqueline Batteast (South Bend, Ind./Washington HS) contributed her second consecutive double-double with 11 points and a game-best 11 rebounds as No. 16 Notre Dame downed Team Concept, 78-45 in exhibition play Sunday at the Joyce Center.
Flecky dodged foul trouble throughout the afternoon to connect on nine of 11 shots, including all three of her three-point attempts. Sophomore forward Courtney LaVere (Ventura, Calif./Buena HS) nearly joined Batteast in the double-double column, chalking up 14 points and nine rebounds, seven of them at the offensive end. Sophomore guard Megan Duffy (Dayton, Ohio/ Chaminade-Julienne HS) also chimed in with another efficient floor performance, scoring 12 points on four of five shooting and adding six assists with just one turnover. In two exhibition games this season, Duffy averaged 9.5 assists per game and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.17.
Notre Dame turned in another solid outing on the boards, pulling down 52 rebounds, including 21 on the offensive glass. The Irish also forced 29 turnovers, coming up with 18 steals in the contest. In addition, the hosts connected on 57.1 percent of their three-point tries and shot a respectable 43.5 percent (30 of 69) from the field.
Less than a minute into the game, it appeared Notre Dame was ready to sweep Team Concept out of the building, as Duffy and Flecky canned consecutive three-pointers in the first 39 seconds. The visitors bounced back and tied the game at 6-6 at the 17:11 mark, before the Irish erupted on a 30-7 run over the next 13 minutes to put the game on ice.
Leading by 19 at the half, Notre Dame stretched its lead to 51-25 on a baseline jumper by Duffy at the 14:18 mark. Team Concept then tried to rally by pressing the Irish and got as close as 59-41 when Jana Lichernova hit the one of two free throws with 6:19 remaining. Following a Notre Dame timeout, Flecky knocked down her third trey of the afternoon to spark a 19-4 game-ending run that she punctuated with a baseline floater with less than a second left.
The Irish will open the 2003-04 regular season Friday at 6 p.m. (MT) against No. 25 Auburn in the opening round of the WBCA Classic at the Coors Events Center in Boulder, Colo. The tournament will serve as a homecoming for Flecky and freshman guard Susie Powers (Centennial, Colo./Highlands Ranch HS).
— ND —