WORCESTER, Mass. –  Senior Lauren Manis notched a steal and drained a foul shot with 8.7 seconds remaining to record her 2,000^th career point – the exclamation point on a home quarterfinal-clinching, 66-48 victory for the Holy Cross women's basketball team over Loyola (Md.) on Wednesday, March 4.

In need of a victory for the chance to host a playoff game, the Crusaders used a dominant second quarter and a strong effort on the boards – outrebounding the Greyhounds 42-21 in the contest – to secure the win.

The fourth-seeded Crusaders will host No. 5 Lafayette in the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament on Monday, March 9 at 7 p.m.

Entering the game 24 points shy of 2,000, Manis finished with 25 points to surpass the 2,000-point milestone and guide Holy Cross in the victory. She is the third player in Holy Cross women's basketball history to record 2,000 career points and is the first player in Holy Cross basketball history – men's or women's – to tally more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Manis also added 15 rebounds and dished out five assists to lift the Crusaders (18-11, 11-7 Patriot League). Sophomore Oluchi Ezemma neared a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore Avery LaBarbera scored 14 points.

Three Greyhounds (8-21, 5-13 Patriot League) finished with double-figure points: Hannah Niles (14), Stephanie Karcz (12) and Emily McAteer (11).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders and Greyhounds traded the lead early; with Holy Cross holding a 14-13 edge with 2:21 left in the first, LaBarbera drained a 3-pointer off a great pass from Manis and Manis followed with a layup to push the lead to six points.
• Leading 19-16 after one quarter, Holy Cross scored eight unanswered points, capped by a 3-pointer from LaBarbera, to quickly gain a double-digit lead.  McAteer had a 3-pointer with 5:45 left to give Loyola its first field goal of the quarter, but Ezemma answered with a layup on the other end. In all, the Crusaders would outscore the Greyhounds 18-5 in the frame, with LaBarbera pushing the Holy Cross lead to 16 points after a steal and a fastbreak layup with 19 seconds to go in the half.
• The Crusaders led by double figures the rest of the way; Loyola cut the lead to 11 points after a 3-pointer from McAteer and a jumper by Molly Taylor with 6:17 left in regulation. Senior Nicole Morris drained a 3-pointer in response, but Karcz notched an and-one to cut back within 11 with 4:17 to go.
• Senior Kathryn Pedi hit a 3-pointer with 3:53 left, and Manis made two free throws before Pedi had another trey to push the lead to 19 with 2:01 remaining.
• Just one point shy of 2,000 with eight seconds to go in the game, Manis stripped the ball from Loyola's Bri Rozzi and drew a foul. She made both free throws to achieve the milestone and cap the scoring in the 66-48 victory.

MILESTONE NOTES:

• Manis joins Amy O'Brien (2,075 points from 1995-99) and Sherry Levin (2,253 points from 1980-84) as the only Holy Cross women's basketball players to surpass the 2,000-point mark.
• In addition to being the only Holy Cross men's or women's basketball player to record 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds, Manis is the first women's basketball player in Patriot League history to achieve the milestone.
• Manis is one of three active Division I women's basketball players with 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds, joining Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard.
• Manis has 1,176 career rebounds, three rebounds shy of breaking the Holy Cross record set by Janet Hourihan (1,178 boards from 1982-86).

PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT:

• The No. 4 Crusaders will host fifth-seeded Lafayette on Monday, March 9 at 7 p.m. at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex.
• Holy Cross will host a Patriot League quarterfinal matchup for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
• Tickets begin at just $5 and can be purchased through the Holy Cross website or by calling the Holy Cross box office at 1-844-GOCROSS.