WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's basketball team pulled away late to defeat Navy, 57-43, earning a season sweep over the Midshipmen on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex.

Holy Cross (13-7, 6-3 Patriot League) outscored the Midshipmen (7-13, 2-7 Patriot League) 20-11 in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Senior Lauren Manis led the Crusaders with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Megan Swords had 12 points and nine boards, while sophomore Avery LaBarbera added in 12 points and eight rebounds.

Mary Kate Ulasewicz had 12 points for Navy. Montana Braxton chipped in eight points for the Midshipmen.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross trailed 11-6 after a low-scoring first quarter; the Crusaders scored the first four points of the second off a layup by Swords and a mid-range jumper by sophomore Oluchi Ezemma. Junior Jenay Faulkner tied the game up at 13-13 off a 3-point basket, and Swords put Holy Cross in the lead with a lay-in.
• Manis later gave Holy Cross an 18-15 lead with a 3-pointer, and added two more points when she swiped the ball and took it to the basket for a layup.
• Holy Cross' lead continued to grow to begin the second half. Swords had a layup to give Holy Cross a 10-point advantage, 28-18, with 7:28 to go in the third, and Ezemma later gave Holy Cross a 32-21 lead with a layup of her own.
• Navy stuck around, cutting within four points with 38 seconds to go in the third quarter. The Midshipmen came within 44-41 with 5:22 to go, and after Faulkner had a layup and freshman Addisyn Cross drained a free throw, Navy immediately answered with a layup to force a Holy Cross timeout.
• Out of the timeout, LaBarbera hit back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead to 10 with 2:15 left. The Crusaders held the Midshipmen scoreless over the remainder of the game; Swords had back-to-back baskets, converting on a no-look, over-the-head pass from LaBarbera with 13 seconds left in the game to push the Holy Cross lead to 14 points.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Manis recorded her fourth consecutive double-double, bringing her season total to 14.
• Holy Cross out-rebounded the Midshipmen 47-34, matching their highest rebound total in Patriot League play this season.  
• LaBarbera has scored in double figures in five consecutive games.
• Senior Madalyn Smith had five assists against Navy; she has had five or more assists in seven of nine Patriot League games this season.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross will head to face Colgate on Saturday, Feb. 1.
• Tipoff in Hamilton, N.Y., is set for 2 p.m.