NOTRE DAME ROMP IS NO HOLIDAY FOR HOPKINSVILLE

The Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs had no problem advancing to the semifinal round of the HealthSouth Holiday Classic.

The Lady Bulldogs (8-1) romped to an easy 57-38 win over the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers on Wednesday.

Hopkinsville (2-5), winners of their first two games of the season, entered with a four-game losing streak.

It didn't get any easier for the visitors from Kentucky.

"We've lost to three of the top teams in our region and our last four losses were to undefeated teams," said Hopkinsville coach D. G. Sherril. "Now we come in here and play a team that is as good as any of those."

Notre Dame, whose only loss was to crosstown rival Cape Central, came out quickly.

Ashley Millham knocked down the first shot of the evening -- a 3-pointer -- and the rout was on. Notre Dame led 19-4 at the end of the first quarter.

The Lady Bulldogs' pressure defense created confusion, turnovers and a bunch of easy baskets.

"We try to do a good job of seeing the ball and when we can do that, no matter what defense we're in, we have pretty good luck with it," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim.

Outshooting their opponents only 49 to 42 percent from the field, the Lady Bulldogs attempted 18 more shots than Hopkinsville, primarily, as a result of their superior defensive play.

Sherril had similar thoughts on the Lady Bulldog defense.

"They're really good defensively," he said. "They're very disciplined, they step to the ball and they help each other very well."

At the half, Notre Dame was up 28-8. After a slow start in the third quarter, the Lady Bulldogs regrouped and went into the final period with a commanding 46-20 lead.

Deana McCormick, Notre Dame's outstanding 6-foot post player, had 11 of her game-high 18 points in the third stanza.

Ashley Millham collected 13 points, while Courtney Vickery chipped in with 10.

Leigh Bollinger led the Lady Tigers with 16 points, including three treys.

With the eight-team field narrowed to four, Notre Dame will meet the Jackson Lady Indians today.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Grim. "Jackson's got a very good team this year. They work hard and put a lot of pressure on the ball. We've got to handle it a little bit better than we did tonight."