Notre Dame girls basketball team routs Jackson 57-27

Bulldogs junior Kaitlin Welter did not score a point in Notre Dame's season-opening 39-32 win against Jackson on Nov. 27.

The junior sharp-shooter was on a roll during Thursday's rematch.

Welter drained five 3-pointers to spark the Bulldogs to a 57-27 rout against the visiting Indians (3-4).

"Nerves were a big thing the first game," Welter said. "Because the time we played Jackson was the first game. I don't know, I was just on tonight. I think we were all really on tonight. We all just really clicked."

To say Notre Dame clicked was an understatement.

The Bulldogs (5-1) led from start to finish, combining an impressive display of defense with plenty of offense.

"It was really nice," Welter said. "Before the game we were talking about how we wanted to come out really strong and not have a stressful game so we could relax and play our game for all four quarters."

Notre Dame grabbed a 9-2 lead and harassed Jackson into a miserable night.

The Bulldogs forced numerous turnovers in the first quarter and shot 7 of 13 from the field.

The quarter ended with Notre Dame ahead 14-4, which was a far cry from their 7-6 deficit in the previous meeting.

"We got a couple quick shots off our press that led to confidence," Bulldogs coach Renee Peters said. "The other game we had against them we started taking long shots, and we missed. And that just flabbergasted us. And when we get a couple of short shots we just went from there."

Welter hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter.

"When you make the first one, you have the confidence to keep shooting," Welter said.

"She did not score a basket the first two games of the year," Peters said. "I think you saw the difference tonight and how that just lifted this team. We work on the penetrate and kick ... and when we penetrate and kick it out to her and she hits one, everyone explodes because that's what she's supposed to do."

The Bulldogs kept the pedal to the floor in the second quarter, outscoring the Indians 16-9 to take a 32-13 halftime lead.

"The one objective we had for this game was to win every quarter," Peters said. "Because we've been struggling by giving up a quarter here or there, and then we have to come back."

Welter kept draining 3-pointers, and Annie Siebert caught fire.

Siebert, a junior shooting guard, led all scorers with 20 points, nine coming in the second quarter.

"I got lucky, really," Siebert said. "I haven't had it at all for the first part of the season, but today I was just on."

The junior made layups, midrange jumpers and 3-pointers.

"She wants to be one of our leaders out there," Peters said. "If one night Karsen [Powers] and Miranda [Fowler] are going to lead, the next night Kaitlin and Annie are. That's what you want to do -- keep teams guessing.

"I'm very complimentary of Annie. Annie is one of those kids that's quick, she can shoot, her shot has gotten a lot better this year, and she's become more of an all-around player."

The Bulldogs hit 6 of 13 shots from the field in the third quarter, opening a 48-20 advantage by the end of the period.

The Indians, bothered by the Bulldogs' pressure, hit just 10 of 40 (25 percent) shots from the field for the game.

"Our defense is our offense, and that's what we've got to live by," Peters said. "We were in that full-court press the whole time. I thought Karsen and Annie did a great job with back-tipping tonight, getting us the steals. We work on that in practice, and it's nice to finally execute it. That is our offense."

Jackson's lone bright spot came in the form of freshman Cassidi Tomsu, who scored 11 points.

Jackson 4 9 7 5 -- 27

Notre Dame 16 16 16 9 -- 57

JACKSON (27) -- Rachel Crites 2, Danielle Daume 3, McKinzie Scott 1, Megan Williams 7, Kayla Keith 1, Cassidi Tomsu 11, Emily Gartman 2. FG 10, FT 7-16, F 8. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none.)

NOTRE DAME (57) -- Miranda Fowler 8, Annie Siebert 20, Karsen Powers 4, Shelby Beussink 4, Kaitlin Welter 15, Kelsey Luster 2, Taylor Feeney 2, Kayce Landewee 2. FG 23, FT 5-6, F 17. (3-pointers: Welter 5, Siebert. Fouled out: none.)