of Notre Dame Gators a big enough cushion to hold off the Eastern University women's basketball team 74-60 in a PAC contest Saturday. Sasha Matthew led the visitors with 21 points, six assists, and four steals. Hannah Tobin led four Eagles in double figures with 16 points.

After falling behind 5-0 to start the game, the Eagles bounced back with a 10-0 run to seize the lead. After a three-pointer from Briana Grap trimmed the Eastern lead to 10-8, Patrice Freeman connected for her third basket of the half to put the Eagles up four. The Gators took the lead for good at 15-14 on a pair of free throws from Matthew. The Gators pushed the lead to seven, but Eastern responded with baskets from Tobin, Joelle DeCarlo, and Shaneen Brown to close the gap to 23-22 with just under six minutes to play in the half.

Notre Dame then responded with an 18-3 run to finish the half. Matthew scored wight points in the decisive run to give the Gators a 41-25 lead at the break. Matthew had 13 to lead all scorers at he intermission, while Garp had nine points on three three-pointers.

The Gators then scored the first twelve points of the second half before Brown snapped the run with a three point play. Brown finished the game with  a career-best 12 points  and a game-high 17 rebounds. The Eagles chipped away at the Gator lead and closed the gap to 58-47 with nine minutes to play on a pair of Patrice Freeman free throws.

The Eagles were unable to close the gap further, as the Notre Dame depth began to take its toll on the short-handed Eagles. Freeman and Emily Reeser joined Tobin and Brown in double figures with 10 points apiece. Garp finished the game with eleven points and five assists for the Gators.

The Eagles return to action Monday night when they host Eagle Road rival Cabrini College in the first game of a double-header. Tip-off is set for 6:00 pm. That game, and all PAC basketball contests can be heard live through the PAC website.

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