WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior
Lauren Manis converted on an and-one with 8.6 seconds remaining to give the Holy Cross women's basketball team a 57-56 victory over Lafayette on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
In front of an energetic crowd filled with local students from Worcester Public Schools, Manis finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and two steals to lead the Crusaders (10-4, 3-0 Patriot League); sophomore
Avery LaBarbera was also in double figures with 11 points. Senior
Megan Swords recorded nine points and seven rebounds while also blocking a game-winning shot attempt by the Leopards.
Drew Freeland led Lafayette (5-8, 1-2 Patriot League) with 16 points, while Alexis Santarelli, Sarah Agnello and Nicole Johnson each had nine points.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Manis scored the Crusaders' first 11 points; a nice dish from freshman Addisyn Cross to Swords gave Holy Cross an early 13-4 lead. Lafayette had six unanswered points, but Holy Cross pushed its lead to 16-10 after a free throw by senior Madalyn Smith and a pair of made free throws from Manis.
- Back-to-back baskets by LaBarbera gave the Crusaders a nine-point lead, 27-18, with 4:38 left in the half. After Lafayette cut within seven late in the half, sophomore Oluchi Ezemma made it a nine-point game heading into halftime with a layup that made the score 34-25.
- The Leopards went on a 15-2 run to open the third quarter to take a 39-36 lead with 4:27 left. LaBarbera had a three to tie things up with 3:58 to go, but Lafayette forced a Holy Cross timeout after taking a 43-39 lead.
- LaBarbera again tied the game at 45-45 by making a pair of free throws with 7:15 to go in the fourth. Manis had two free throws and a layup to give the Crusaders a 54-50 lead with 2:03 left, but a layup from Natalie Kucowski and two free throws from Santarelli evened the score with 1:06 remaining.
- A foul on the Leopards and two ensuing free throws gave Lafayette a 56-54 lead with 21 seconds on the clock. On the other end, LaBarbera missed a 3-pointer, but Manis grabbed the offensive board, muscled her way to a layup to even the game at 56-56 and drew a foul with eight seconds remaining. Manis then drained the free throw to push Holy Cross back into the lead at 57-56.
- With just a few seconds left, Freeland attempted the game-winning shot for Lafayette, but the shot was blocked by Swords to seal the victory.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- The Crusaders have now won their last four games; Holy Cross is 5-0 at home this season and has won 18 of its last 22 games at the Hart Center.
- Manis has recorded 25 or more points in three games this season. The double-double marked her 10th of the year.
- LaBarbera has been in double figures in 12 games this season.
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross will be back at the Hart Center on Saturday, Jan. 11 to host reigning Patriot League champion Bucknell.
- Tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.
