In her second go-round as head coach of the Notre Dame College women’s team, Lauren Macer is well aware of the challenges facing the Falcons in the 2023-24 season.

NDC is coming off a 7-22 finish last season, including a  6-16 run through the always rugged Mountain East Conference.

Former coach Imani Gordon was dismissed after the disappointing season, setting the stage for Macer to return to the top job at NDC after a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Division I Purdue-Fort Wayne.

Macer, an outstanding player at NDC from 2009 to 2013, was an assistant at the D-II school for four seasons prior ro being named head coach in 2017.

She led the Falcons to a 78-32 record in four seasons, including a record-setting 26-5 finish in the 2019-20 season.

Macer was named MEC Coach of the Year as NDC claimed the MEC tournament title and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Although the NDC women’s program is in rebuilding mode this season, Macer didn’t hesitate to accept a return engagement at her alma mater.

“Notre Dame College is home,” Macer said. “I was a student here and played here. I was an assistant coach here, then a head coach. Now I have the opportunity to get this program back to what I know it can be.”

The Falcons are off to a slow start even while getting steady performances from a core of returnees headed by junior guard Lilee Carlson (13.0 points), junior guard Kennadi Harris (11.8 points), sophomore forward Noel Weathers (10.5 points) and junior guard Rachel Richardson (10.5 points).

Making steady contributions in the rotation are junior guard Karli Anker, sophomore guard Cencere McDaniel, senior guard Mallory Hullinger and senior guard Nadia Jackson.

The Falcons were picked to finish eighth in the MEC preseason poll.

“It doesn’t matter where we are supposed to finish,” Macer said. “What matters is how we play every game and grow as a team.”

Notre Dame College women’s 2023-24 schedule

Home games in CAPS

November

10- Clarion, W 93-83

11- Gannon, L 108-56

15- URSULINE, L 84-72

18- WHEELING, L 70-57

21- West Liberty, 5:30 p.m.

26- Ohio Dominican, 2 p.m.

29- GLENVILLE ST., 5:30 p.m.

December

2- Concord, 2 p.m.

6- David & Elkins, 5:30 p.m.

9- WV WESLEYAN, 2 p.m.

30- TIFFIN, 1 p.m.

January

6- Lake Erie, 3 p.m.

10- WV State, 5:30 p.m.

13- Charleston, 2 p.m.

17- Frostburg St., 5:30 p.m.

20- FAIRMONT ST., 2 p.m.

24- Wheeling, 5:30 p.m.

27- Salem, 2 p.m.

31- WV Wesleyan, 5:30 p.m.

February

3- DAVIS & ELKINS, 2 p.m.

7- CONCORD, 5:30 p.m.

10- Glenville St.,  2 p.m.

14- CHARLESTON, 5:30 p.m.

17- WV State, 2 p.m.

21- FROSTBURG ST., 5:30 p.m.

24- Fairmont St., 2 p.m.

28- WEST LIBERTY, 5:30 p.m.

March

2- SALEM, 2 p.m.