AMHERST, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's basketball team fell short against the University of Massachusetts in a 75-72 result on Sunday, Dec. 8 at the Mullins Center.

Sophomore Avery LaBarbera had 23 points, five assists and a pair of steals to lead the Crusaders (4-3). Senior Lauren Manis had a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds, along with three blocks and four assists, while senior Kathryn Pedi matched her career high with 18 points and a pair of steals.

Vashnie Perry had 20 points for UMass (6-3). Maeve Donnelly had a double-double of 12 rebounds and 10 blocks, while three others were in double-figure points for the Minutewomen: Hailey Leidel (19), Destiney Philoxey (15) and Bre Hampton-Bey (10).

The Crusaders made a season-high 14 3-pointers, matching a single-game program record.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross took control of the game early, and used an 8-0 run, capped by a layup and two free throws from Manis, to take a 16-5 lead with 1:31 left. UMass cut within 18-9 to close out the first quarter as Perry hit a jumper with time expiring.
• The Crusaders maintained their lead in the second quarter thanks to six 3-pointers, but UMass was able to close the gap. Pedi and LaBarbera hit back-to-back threes to help rebuild the Crusaders' lead to 11, 24-13; after a three by Leidel, LaBarbera answered with another three.
• UMass responded with seven unanswered points, with Donnelly converting on an and-one to cut the lead to 27-23 with 4:14 left. Smith had a three to give the Crusaders a seven-point advantage, but Hampton-Bey and Philoxy had a pair of jumpers to cut within three with 2:27 left in the second quarter.
• The Minutewomen were within four points at the half, 36-32, and immediately got a basket to make it a two-point game to begin the third quarter before LaBarbera responded with a three on the other end.
• A 3-pointer by Pedi gave Holy Cross a 47-40 lead with 6:45 left in the third before UMass went on an 11-0 run to lead by four with 3:15 to go in the frame. LaBarbera broke up the run with a jumper, and later kept the Crusaders within three with a layup as time expired.
• Holy Cross trailed by nine with 5:12 left in the game, but started to chip away. Manis had a three to make it 69-64 with 2:21 left, and Pedi had another three to make it 69-67 with 50 seconds remaining.
• Donnelly's layup gave UMass a four-point advantage with 22 seconds left; after Manis sank two free throws to cut the lead to two, UMass had two more free throws to make the score 73-69. LaBarbera had a 3-point attempt roll in and out with eight seconds left, and UMass used two free throws to extend their lead to six points with seven seconds left before Pedi had a three as time expired.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Manis' double-double was her fourth of the season; she now leads the team in that category.
• After scoring 17 points on Sunday, Manis moves into sixth place in program history with 1,581 career points.
• The Crusaders have made double-digit 3-pointers in each of the past three games. Their 14 threes against UMass on Sunday matched a single-game record, previously set on Nov. 18, 2017 against Brown.
• Pedi matches a pair of career highs with 18 points and six 3-pointers, set on Dec. 1 at Brown.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross rounds out its four-game road swing with a visit to Sacred Heart on Saturday, Dec. 14.
• Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.