Fighting Irish Women take another step toward the NCAA Title

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish Women's Team showed up at Purcell Pavilion to do what they were supposed to do - to hold off the University of Montana Lady Grizzlies.

For the first four minutes of the game Montana hung in there with the Irish, but from there on, it was all blue and gold.

Notre Dame increased the lead from 15-6 with Jewell Loyd passing to Taya Reimer for the layup.

The ladies never looked back.

The Irish were ahead 37-22 leading into halftime.

During the second half of play, the Irish maintained a double-digit lead throughout.

Loyd finished the game with 18 points.

The Irish advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a final score of 77-43.