[CamelPride]

Notre Dame avenged a loss in last season's Ninth Region championship game, defeating host Conner 67-55 Saturday.

Senior Kirsten Delph, a Hebron resident and former Conner player, scored 21 points for NDA in her return to a court she called home as an eighth-grader.

"First of all, it was nice to avenge our loss in the championship game," Delph said. "Also, it feels good to come back after playing here and have that type of game."

Delph was one of four Pandas starters to score more than 10 points. Coach Cheryl Darpel said that kind of offensive variety is important for a Notre Dame team still missing guard Casey Jackson, who has a broken finger.

"Kirsten has been consistent with her game all season. She brings that kind of performance every night," Darpel said. "But we've needed different people to step up with Casey out, and they've continued to do that."

Emily Ludwig scored 16 points, Judy Albanese added 15 and Madeline Walker had 12 for the Pandas.

Both teams came out hot in the first quarter, matching nearly shot for shot at a frenetic pace.

The Cougars' offense came from guards Allison Long, who scored nine points in the quarter, and Devin Beasley, who had seven. Delph, Walker and Ludwig combined for 20 points as the Pandas took a 23-18 advantage after the first frame.

"I think both teams wanted to play that up-tempo style," Darpel said. "That's a style we feel is best suited for our team and a style we definitely want to play."

Notre Dame (9-4), ranked No. 4 in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll, asserted itself in the second quarter, while Conner's offense stumbled. The Cougars cut the Pandas' lead to three points with six minutes remaining in the half but were outscored 14-4 the rest of the way, giving Notre Dame a 40-27 halftime lead.

"We're a team still trying to figure out our identity and what style of play suits us best," Conner coach Kim Warfield said. "At first they were killing our zone (defense) and we slowed them a little bit in the second half with our man-to-man."

As the Pandas stretched their lead to 18 points to begin the second half, Conner battled back with an 11-0 run behind the long-range shooting of Long, who finished with a game-high 28 points.

"Allison Long was impressive in the regional finals last year, and she stepped up again tonight," Darpel said. "I think she was running off three screens every time down the floor and she kept knocking down shots."

A nine-point deficit was the closest Conner would get as Ludwig and Albanese combined for 14 points in the game's final 10 minutes to stave off a comeback try.

It was the second loss in three games for Conner (6-3), which is ranked No. 3 in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky poll. The Cougars lost 59-41 to Simon Kenton Dec. 22.

Conner (6-3) - Beasley 1 2 7, Fischer 2 2 6, Long 10 3 28, Kring 0 1 1, Malone 3 1 8, Osuna 1 0 2, Taulbee 1 0 3. Totals: 19 9 55.

Notre Dame (9-4) - Ludwig 5 4 16, Walker 5 2 12, Albanese 6 2 15, Delph 8 4 21, Drees 0 1 1, Worland 1 0 2. Totals: 25 13 67.

3-Pointers: C 8 (Long 5, Beasley, Malone, Taulbee); N 4 (Ludwig 2, Albanese, Delph).