Picked second in the Preseason MEC Coaches' Poll, Lauren Macer's Falcons are off to a 2-2 start and dropped their league opener 88-81 at Concord Saturday. Notre Dame has played the first four games of the season without guard Marisa Finazzo who earned Second-Team All-MEC honors last year. The team is led by fellow guard Seina Adachi who is posting 23.8 points per game. Adachi has scored at least 21 points in each of her team's four games, including a 29-point outburst in a loss to Malone. Having lost back-to-back games, the Falcons have struggled on defense. Concord shot 50 percent from the 3-point line in its victory to follow up on Malone's 25-for-51 shooting night which snapped an early two-game winning streak for Notre Dame.  Opponents are shooting 44.4 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from the 3-point line against the Falcons this season. In two wins against UVa-Wise last year, Notre Dame limited the Cavs to 35.7 percent shooting and a combined 11-for-36 showing from beyond the arc.

Early in the season, a common denominator has been present when UVa-Wise has been victorious. In two wins, the Cavaliers have received superb point guard play. Most recently, senior Janice Ladson poured in a career-high 14 points while adding a career-high five steals in a 72-52 win over Urbana. Earlier this year, fellow senior Adalmaryz Rivera - Gomez tallied a career-high 19 points in a 77-68 win over Millersville. Jamie Cluesman's team continues to run its offense through the interior as junior Cynita Webb has three double-doubles and has scored at least 10 points in all four games. Saturday, UVa-Wise posted its best defensive effort of the season by limiting Urbana to just 3-of-28 shooting in the first half en route to a 26.8 percent shooting performance for the game. Behind Ladson's five steals, the Cavs also forced 23 Blue Knights' turnovers which led to 20 of UVa-Wise's 72 points.