They started the New Year with a 25-point blowout loss to Notre Dame, so they had an idea what they were in for: another 25-point loss.

A pair of three-pointers by ND’s Kate McCarthy had the Cougars out to a quick 6-0 lead. However, junior captain Devon Tsinzo and freshman forward Michela North matched McCarthy’s marksmanship to tie the game at 6-6.

The Lady Dragons were staying close and actually went ahead when junior captain Maggie Norton scored for an 11-10 lead, prompting Notre Dame Coach Mike Barrett to put on the press and turn the game around.

What had begun to look like a turning point in the young Dragons’ season suddenly became a disaster as the Cougars smothered the Duxbury offense and kept them from making any serious advances into the offensive end.

What was an 11-10 lead turned into a 29-11 halftime deficit, as the Cougars shutout Duxbury in the second quarter with six-foot senior captain Lauren McClelland and senior captain Kara Stefaniak pouring in six points each.

The hosts opened the second half with eight straight points for a 37-12 lead, and were finally cooled off by sophomore Shannon McLaughlin, who scored six points before the third quarter ended with a 41-20 Notre Dame lead.

Coach Mark Dunn went to his bench in the fourth quarter, as ND substituted freely, and watched as senior Maggie Dunn, junior Jenna Cusick, and junior Lauren Grady got on the scoreboard in the 53-28 loss to the Cougars, who had just beaten top-ranked Andover earlier in the week.

The girls will travel to Pembroke on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. to take on the Titans.