WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's basketball team bounced back with a 72-59 win over American on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Holy Cross did not trail at any point in the contest, benefitting from a season-high 25 assists. Senior
Lauren Manis dominated for the Crusaders (11-6, 4-2 Patriot League), posting 22 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Sophomore
Avery LaBarbera recorded 18 points and five assists; senior
Kathryn Pedi and sophomore
Oluchi Ezemma had nine points each. Senior
Madalyn Smith contributed nine assists.
Kaitlyn Marenyi went 10-for-11 from the line and finished with 24 points for American (6-10, 2-4 Patriot League). Jade Edwards contributed 11 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Crusaders jumped out to a 10-0 lead after a three from Manis, a jumper and 3-pointer by LaBarbera and a layup by senior Megan Swords. American responded with eight unanswered points, but junior Jenay Faulkner stopped the run with a 3-pointer; after the Eagles cut within 15-14, Pedi added another 3-pointer to give Holy Cross an 18-14 advantage after one quarter.
- Leading by eight, 32-24, with 4:18 left in the second quarter, the Crusaders went on an 11-0 run, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Manis, to extend their lead to 43-24, their largest advantage of the game.
- American cut within nine points after Marenyi made the free throw on an and-one with 7:36 to go in the third. LaBarbera responded with a 3-pointer, though, and Ezemma made a layup to push the lead to 14. That lead grew to 18, 61-43, when Manis had a layup and LaBarbera had another three with 1:52 to go in the third.
- Manis made a pair of free throws to push Holy Cross' lead back to 19, 67-48, with 7:33 left in the game. After the Eagles cut within 12 with 5:26 to go, Pedi hit another three to push the lead back to 15.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- The Crusaders bested their previous season high of 21 assists, which they set against Brown on Dec. 1.
- Manis has hit double-figure rebounds in 13 games this season and has had 15 or more on four occasions. Her six assists on Saturday were also a career high.
- Holy Cross' 13 made 3-pointers marked the team's second-highest total of the season.
MOMENT OF SILENCE:
- Prior to the game, there was a moment of silence in remembrance of sophomore Grace Rett, a member of the Crusader women's rowing team who lost her life in a serious motor vehicle accident while on a winter training trip in Florida.
- For updates and additional information on Holy Cross rowing, visit the Holy Cross Newsroom.
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross will head to Bethlehem, Pa. to take on Lehigh on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
- Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
