SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame shook-off a sluggish opening quarter to down Fairmont State, 85-72, on Saturday afternoon at the Murphy Gymnasium.
 
With the loss, Fairmont State falls to 15-9 overall and 9-9 in the Mountain East Conference. NDC improves to 16-8 overall and 13-5 in the league.
 
Amanda Ruffner recorded her ninth 20-point scoring performance of the season, finishing with 22 points and eight rebounds. Ruffner went 11-of-15 from the floor. Katie Nunan was also efficient from the floor, going 7-of-10 and totaling 16 points. Emily Puskarich also reached double-figures with 15 points, draining four three-pointers. Gabrielle Etter was just shy of recording a double-double with eight points and eight assists.
 
Martha Nagbe and Lauren Langenderfer each recorded 20 points to lead Notre Dame in the victory. Kim Cook also reached double-figures with 10 points and Celine Mangan finished the game with eight points and a team-high six assists.
 
Fairmont State started fast, breaking-out to a 27-19 advantage after one quarter of play. Notre Dame turned the game, however, by outscoring Fairmont 19-9 in the second quarter to take a 38-36 advantage into the locker room.
 
In the second half it was all Notre Dame, as the home-standing Falcons shot 65.5 percent (19-of-29) from the field in the final 20 minutes to run away with the win. NDC also dominated the glass the entire game, holding a 34-18 rebounding margin. Notre Dame pulled down 17 of its rebounds on the offensive end, totaling 19 second-chance points.
 
Despite the double-digit loss, the Falcons shot 58.5 percent, including over 60 percent in the opening half. FSU also held a 7-6 advantage in three-pointers.
 
The Falcons will look to snap their five-game skid on Thursday night at home, when West Virginia State comes to town for a 5:30 p.m. tip.