FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Holy Cross women's basketball team used a strong second half to down Sacred Heart, 65-52, on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The Crusaders (5-3) outscored the Pioneers (3-6) in the second half by a 35-21 margin, including a 23-11 third quarter. Senior
Lauren Manis led the way for Holy Cross with 23 points off 9-for-12 shooting and 11 rebounds, marking her fifth double-double of the year. Senior
Megan Swords chipped in 14 points, shooting 7-for-10, and eight boards.
Sophomore
Avery LaBarbera was in double figures with 12 points and six rebounds, while senior
Madalyn Smith added in seven assists.
Jessica Woods had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds with three blocks to lead Sacred Heart. Jayla Davis scored 15 points, making nine of 10 free throws, and grabbed six rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Sacred Heart got out to a 6-0 lead before Manis drained a 3-pointer to give the Crusaders their first points of the game. The Pioneers continued to push, extending their lead to 15-8 with four minutes left in the first quarter.
- The Crusaders began chipping away at the deficit, trailing just 15-12 after a layup from Manis. After entering the second quarter down 17-12, Holy Cross got a layup from Swords and a three from Smith to tie the game up in the first 50 seconds. Sophomore Oluchi Ezemma gave the Crusaders the lead, 19-17, after a putback at 7:17; from there, Holy Cross and Sacred Heart traded the lead over the course of the half, with the Crusaders entering the locker room down 31-30.
- Manis took over in the third quarter, scoring 10 of Holy Cross' first 12 points in the frame. Her 3-pointer gave the Crusaders a seven-point lead, 42-35, with 6:53 left in the quarter, and the Crusaders' lead grew to double figures at 45-35 after senior Kathryn Pedi had a three of her own. Davis had two free throws to cut the Holy Cross lead back to single digits, but the Pioneers could not cut any closer for the remainder of the game.
- The Crusaders' lead grew as high as 17 points with 8:03 left in the fourth after Swords put back a missed 3-pointer to give Holy Cross a 59-42 lead. Sacred Heart had six straight points to prompt a Holy Cross timeout, but the Crusaders maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Both Smith and Manis appeared in their 100th career game on Saturday.
- In Smith's 100 games, she has had five or more assists 24 times.
- In Manis' 100 contests, she has reached double figures 85 times and 20-plus points on 30 occasions, and has earned a double-double 43 times.
- LaBarbera and Manis have each had seven games in double figures this season, while Swords has been in double figures five times.
- Of Holy Cross' five wins this season, four have come by a margin of 12 or more points.
- This was the Crusaders' first game against Sacred Heart since the 1981-82 season; Holy Cross moves to 2-0 in the all-time series.
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross returns to Worcester and will resume action after finals against the University of New Hampshire on Dec. 22.
- The Crusaders will host the Wildcats at the Hart Center, with tipoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
