WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's basketball overcame a tough effort by Army West Point, defeating the Black Knights by a score of 64-61 on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex.

Senior Lauren Manis finished with a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds along with four steals for the Crusaders (16-11, 9-7 Patriot League). With her rebound at 1:01 of the third quarter, Manis became the Patriot League's all-time leader in career rebounds; she now has 1,152 boards in her four-year tenure on The Hill.

Sophomore Avery LaBarbera also had an impressive showing, chipping in 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Senior Megan Swords was also in double figures, recording 10 points.

Alisa Fallon paced Army (7-20, 3-13 Patriot League) with 20 points and five assists. Sarah Bohn finished with 14 points, while Kamryn Hall contributed eight points and seven rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders got off to a slow start, trailing 10-2 with 3:55 to go in the first before Manis had two free throws and a 3-pointer to keep Holy Cross close. Sophomore Oluchi Ezemma had two layups to open the second quarter and spark the Crusaders' offense, cutting the Black Knights' lead to 13-11.
• Army extended its lead back to 18-13, but a pair of layups from Swords and a basket from Ezemma gave Holy Cross a 19-18 advantage with 2:29 to go in the half. Army responded with a 3-point basket, but freshman Addisyn Cross immediately gave the Crusaders the lead back with a 3-pointer of her own, giving Holy Cross a 22-21 edge entering halftime.
• The Crusaders had seven unanswered points to open the third before Army began to chip away, eventually taking a 33-31 lead after a layup from Fallon. LaBarbera drove in with a layup, drawing an and-one and sinking the free throw to give Holy Cross the lead back.
• After Bohn hit a three for Army, sophomore Kelly Petro saw a layup roll in to tie the game back up at 36-36, and Manis and LaBarbera hit back-to-back threes to help the Crusaders regain a six-point advantage with 42 seconds to go in the third. Fallon made one of two free throws with 26 seconds left before LaBarbera had another 3-point basket to extend Holy Cross' lead to eight as time expired in the third.
• The Crusaders led by as much as 15, 56-41, after LaBarbera converted on an and-one with 6:13 to go. Army went on a quick 9-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Natalie Stralkus, to cut within six. The Black Knights got the Holy Cross lead down to two points, 58-56, before the Crusaders made three of four free throws to extend the lead to five.
• Fallon had a layup for Army, and after LaBarbera made a free throw, Bohn sunk a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left to bring the Black Knights within 62-61. LaBarbera made the first of two free throws, and after missing the second, Manis grabbed an offensive board before getting fouled. She made one of two free throws with nine seconds on the clock, and Army's game-tying 3-point attempt bounced off the rim as time expired.

 BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Manis surpassed the previous Patriot League record of 1,143 rebounds set by Army's Katie MacFarlane in 2004. She ranks second in Holy Cross history in that category at 1,152, trailing Janet Hourihan, who had 1,178 rebounds between 1982-86.
• Manis now has 56 career double-doubles, including 18 this year, and has recorded 15 or more rebounds in six games this season.
• This is the third time LaBarbera has had 20 or more points in a game this year. Her seven assists were also a season high.
• Petro played a career-high 18 minutes in the win.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders head to Washington for a 2 p.m. matchup at American on Saturday, Feb. 29.