Williams And McFadden Spark Fourth-Quarter Run In 73-66 Win At Notre Dame

BALTIMORE, Md. – Anise Williams (West Palm Beach, Fla./The Benjamin School) powered a decisive 20-12 run to end the game with 10 points and finished the contest with a career-high 29 points to lift Goucher College past Notre Dame University of Maryland 73-66 in non-conference women's basketball action on Tuesday.

After the Gators grabbed a 54-53 with 8:41 left, Kyani Quarles (Houston, Texas/Cristo Rey Jesuit) gave the Gophers the lead they would not relinquish at 55-54. Williams then scored twice sandwiched in between a Jorryn Avery (Glen Burnie, Md./Severn School) layup to give Goucher a 61-56 lead with 3:32 remaining.

Notre Dame cut the margin to 61-58 with 3:15 on the clock before Williams scored six of the next seven points to hand Goucher a 68-60 margin with 39 seconds left. The Gators hit a pair of 3's to make it interesting, but Alayna McFadden (Silver Spring, Md./Montgomery Blair) converted 5 of 6 from the free throw line to seal the win.

Williams finished the game by shooting 10-for-15 from the floor, 2 of 2 from behind the arc and 7 of 10 from the free throw line to establish a new career best with 29 points. She also added four rebounds, four steals and two assists. The sophomore posted 20 points in back-to-back games for the first time in her career while she has registered 20 points seven times in her career. Williams also has at least four steals in four of the five games this season.

McFadden also had a good shooting night after going 7-for-11 from the field, 4 of 5 from behind the arc and 6 of 8 from the charity stripe to finish with 24 points along with 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of her career and second of the season. It is the fourth time in her career that she has registered at least 20 points and 10 rebounds while the team is 5-1 when she reaches 20 points.

Avery added 10 points off the bench in her first game of the season. The sophomore made her 2019-20 debut with her third double-figure performance of her career and for the third time in her last seven games.

Fueled by eight points from McFadden, Goucher jumped out to an 18-11 lead after the first quarter.

Notre Dame started the second quarter by scoring 13 of the first 22 points to trim the deficit to 27-24 with 4:08. With the Gophers holding a 29-26 lead, Williams closed the frame with a 6-2 spurt to give Goucher a 35-28 lead going into the locker room.

The Gators started the second half on a 13-6 run to tie the game at 41 with five-minutes left. The contest would be tied at 46 and 49 before the Gophers scored the final four points on baskets in the paint by Williams and Avery.

Notre Dame then took a 54-53 lead, but Willams and McFadden powered a 20-12 run with 15 combined points to surge the team to its third win of the season.

Goucher returns to action on Sunday when the team makes its 2019-20 Decker Sports and Recreation Center debut against St. Mary's. Game time is 6 p.m.