January 26, 2002

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Virginia Tech women's basketball entered Saturday night's game determined to end Notre Dame's 46-game home court winning streak but hit a scoring drought midway through the second half and dropped a 64-57 decision to the Fighting Irish in front of 8,878 fans at the Joyce Center. The crowd was the fourth largest for a Notre Dame women's basketball home contest.

Tech (15-4, 6-2), ranked No. 16 in the Associated Press and No. 17 in the USA TODAY/ESPN coaches poll, closed to within 40-37 with 12:50 remaining in the contest but was held scoreless for over six minutes as the Irish put together a 10-0 run. The Hokies managed to close the margin in the final minutes but Notre Dame hit 8-of-8 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

Ieva Kublina (So., Riga, Lativa) led Tech with 20 points, 18 in the second half, with six rebounds and four blocks. Sarah Hicks (Sr., Roanoke, Va.) added 15 points with four assists. Hicks also connected on three treys to become Tech's career three-point field goals made leader with 130. Emily Lipton handed out six assists as Tech committed a season-low six turnovers.

Freshman Jacqueline Batteast led Notre Dame (11-7, 5-2) with 26 points and scored 13 of the first 15 points for the Irish. Alicia Ratay tossed in 22 points, 19 in the second half, and was 3-of-3 from behind the arc. Ratay's only points of the first half occurred when she banked in a shot from halfcourt at the buzzer.

Tech suffered its second straight sub-par performance from the field shooting 40.4 percent (23-57) and connected on only 4-of-10 free throw attempts. The Hokies defense did return to form holding the Irish to 39.6 (21-53) from the field but Notre Dame was 16-of-19 from the free throw line.

The Hokies will try to get back on track Tuesday night at 7 p.m. when they host top-ranked Connecticut.