Brumitt ignites ND

Notre Dame players and coaches call senior Emily Brumitt their 3-point specialist.

But Brumitt did just about everything against rival Jackson on Saturday in her return after missing her team's first eight games.

Brumitt poured in 23 points, including converting 4 of 5 3-pointers. She also grabbed six rebounds and had four steals to lead the Bulldogs to a 57-42 home victory.

"It was her first game and really it just helps our team chemistry because she's a big part of this team," senior Alex Fowler said. "With her in the game, we can do a lot more. ... We all said that the only thing we ever heard the whole game was 'Brumitt for 3' [from the public address announcer]."

It was the second time Notre Dame (7-2) beat Jackson (3-5) this season. The Bulldogs collected a 57-39 win over the Indians in the Farmington Tournament on Dec. 6.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.comNotre Dame's Katherine Blasiney dribbles past Jackson's Kaylen Knepp during the second half Saturday.

"We just came out a little slow in the beginning, and I think a lot of it was nerves because Notre Dame played so well the first time we played them," Jackson coach Sheila Haertling said. "I think we can really play with them at times, but we get in those two- or three-minute slumps and they get the lead and we can't fight our way back.

"[Brumitt], she's a great player. I saw her play a lot this summer in summer ball. She can shoot the ball, definitely. She makes a big difference for them."

Brumitt and the Bulldogs coaching staff declined to discuss the reason Brumitt was unable to play the first eight games. Last year, Brumitt averaged 11.4 points per game and netted 41 percent of her 3-point attempts.

"I was ready to light it up," Brumitt said. "I've just been working in practice a lot and I don't think I ever got out of the groove with the team."

Jane Morrill added 14 points for Notre Dame, which made 17 steals and shot 52 percent from the field.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.comJackson's Kaylen Knepp, left, passes the ball after a rebound against Notre Dame's Meghan Dohogne during the last minutes of a Bulldog victory 57-42 Saturday at Notre Dame.

Morrill said Brumitt told her before the contest that although she was nervous, she was ready to play.

"Whenever she started catching on fire, I really didn't talk to her about it," Morrill said. "I just kept saying, 'Yep, that's the way it's going to be.'"

Notre Dame jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the 1 minute, 9 seconds of the contest. But the Indians scored eight consecutive points over the next 2:40 to tie it. With the score knotted 15-15, Brumitt netted a 3-pointer as the first period expired to give the Bulldogs an 18-15 advantage. Notre Dame never would surrender the lead.

"She's not only a leading shooter for us, but one of the best players we have -- passing, rebounding, everything," Notre Dame coach Renee Peters said about Brumitt. "She lit it up for us today. She sees the passes inside to Jane. She runs the floor well."

The Bulldogs went on a 15-2 run in the first 5:27 of the second quarter to take a 33-17 lead. During the stretch, five different players scored for Notre Dame.

"We tried to just run them a lot," Brumitt said. "Run and gun and keep the ball moving. ... We've been working really hard on our press."

Notre Dame led 33-21 at halftime. The Bulldogs outscored Jackson 16-5 in the third quarter to take a 49-26 lead entering the final quarter. Brumitt scored 12 in the third.

Jackson brought it back within 12 points at 52-40 with 2:26 left, but Notre Dame didn't let the Indians get any closer.

Kaylen Knepp led Jackson with 19 points.

"[Notre Dame] is good inside and out," Haertling said. "They have a lot of good players. We've got some players who can play. We just haven't stepped up and shown it lately."

@z_agate_HSbasketball_linescore:Jackson156516--42

Notre Dame1815168--57

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:Jackson (42) -- Dru Haertling 7, Chelsea Bartels 2, Ashten Howard 3, Cassandra Bollinger 1, Kaylen Knepp 19, Connor King 6, Jordan Smith 2, Brooke Sanders 2. FG 14-46, FT 9-14, F 15. (3-pointers: Howard 1, Knepp 4. Fouled out: none).

Notre Dame (57) -- Alex Fowler 7, Emily Brumitt 23, Allyson Bradshaw 7, Jane Morrill 14, Meghan Dohogne 3, Brooke Bohnert 3. FG 22-42. FT 8-12, F 15. (3-pointers: Brumitt 4, Fowler 1, Fouled out: Dohogne)