But Jim 'Jules' Giglio and his Spartans aren't dismayed. In fact, they're already looking forward to a third matchup with ND Feb. 19 at Sovereign Bank Arena in the Mercer Challenge.

The Spartans know the best way to prepare for the upcoming state tourney is to play the best -- and that's ND right now.

Last night the 16-2 Irish, No. 1 in The Trentonian Area Top 20 and No. 3 in the State Top 20, survived another bruising battle with Steinert for a 55-39 win to get to 12-0 in the CVC Colonial Division standings.

ND, which has only been seriously challenged in the CVC by Trenton and Steinert, got 25 points from Michelle Campbell, including 15-for-17 foul shooting, to stay a game up on a Trenton team it plays again on Feb. 14.

"We didn't have an answer for Michelle tonight," Giglio said. "You have to foul her because she's that good. We fouled her, and she makes all her foul shots.

"Minus Michelle, I think we win this game," said Giglio.

ND coach Ann DeMille might argue that point, although she knows her 6-foot-1 senior center wasdominating as she grabbed 18 rebounds, blocked five shots and was intimidating inside.

The Irish needed that too since they didn't dominate like usual.

Steinert was partly responsible for that, although DeMille felt other factors kept it a 10-point game until four minutes to go.

"I thought we looked sluggish, tired tonight," said DeMille. "They played us tough last time, too. We had a rough stretch last week with back-to-back games, and that starts to wear on you.

"Plus there was a lot of banging going on," DeMille said. "We also gave up some 'threes' in transistion, and Steinert stepped up and made them."

After shooting 1-for-6 in the first period and turning the ball over eight times to fall behind by 16-2, Steinert seemed to get new life in the second period when it connected on four 19-foot shots -- two by Stephanie Burrell.

Kelly Pugh's 'trey' to close the half got Steinert within 24-17, and when Burell drained a third 3-pointer early in the third period ND's lead was cut to six.

Four Campbell foul shots offset two strong Christi Redondo post moves to keep it at six. But when Steinert failed to score on three consecutive possessions ND was able to run off eight straight on two Bridget Catanese foul shos and three fastbreak baskets.

Nicole Kasian came off the bench to score six straight points spanning the end of the third period and first 2:21 of the final quarter to get Steinert within 10.

It never got closer as Campbell threw in five foul shots and a press-breaking layup to clinch it.

"We knew the key was to get off to a good start, which we didn't do," said Giglio. "We got back in it, and at halftime I hated to see the half end because we were playing well.

"Kasian loves to penetrate, and when she came in she really helped us out. We played hard again, but had no answer for Michelle Campbell."

Until his girls play the Irish a third time Jim Giglio will keep looking for some way to derail the Notre Dame express.