Basketball Game Preview: Murrieta Valley Nighthawks vs. Notre Dame (SO) Knights

The Murrieta Valley Nighthawks will be taking part in a tournament against the Notre Dame (SO) Knights at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Murrieta Valley is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 54.1 points per game this season.

Notre Dame (SO) is hoping to do what Spring Creek couldn't on Saturday: put an end to Murrieta Valley's winning streak, which now stands at three games. Murrieta Valley came out on top against Spring Creek by a score of 55-42. The win was all the more spectacular given the Nighthawks' disadvantage in MaxPreps' basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 291st in California, while the Spartans are ranked 46th in Nevada).

Valerie Lauritzen

Steals

12/21/24 vs Spring Creek	5
12/20/24 @ Mohave Accelerated	8
12/19/24 @ Pahrump Valley	4
12/13/24 vs Corona	2
12/11/24 vs Hemet	4

Murrieta Valley got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Valerie Lauritzen out in front who posted 18 points along with five rebounds and five steals. Lauritzen has been hot for a while, having posted two or more steals the last 19 times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Alysia Maldonado Murray, who went 7 of 16 on her way to 15 points in addition to five boards and four steals.

Murrieta Valley smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 22 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in ten consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame (SO) was able to grind out a solid win over Immaculate Heart on Saturday, taking the game 52-40. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Knights.

Notre Dame (SO) is on a roll lately: they've won five of their last six matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 7-4 record this season. As for Murrieta Valley, their record now sits at 10-5.