WORCESTER, Mass. – Freshman guard
Bronagh Power-Cassidy hit a late go-ahead free throw as the Holy Cross women's basketball team held on for a 63-62 victory over Colgate – and their fourth straight win – on Sunday, Jan. 17.
Power-Cassidy finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Junior forward
Oluchi Ezemma had a dominant performance, recording career highs in rebounds (17) and assists (four) to go with 14 points. Junior guard
Avery LaBarbera finished with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals to help lead Holy Cross (4-2).
Katlyn Ghavidel had 17 points to lead Colgate (1-5), while Morgan Frank finished in double figures with 12 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The score was tied at 21 apiece after a back-and-forth first quarter. The Crusaders were able to extend their lead to six, 32-26, after freshman guard Cara McCormack hit a 3-pointer with 4:06 left in the first half. Colgate cut within two points with 45 seconds left in the half, but Ezemma hit two free throws to put Holy Cross ahead 40-36 at the half.
- The Raiders opened the second half on a 7-1 run to take a 43-41 lead, but Power-Cassidy made a three to put Holy Cross back ahead. Colgate held an 18-11 edge in the third quarter, though, and closed out the quarter with six unanswered points, including a layup at the buzzer, to build a 54-51 lead headed into the final frame.
- Geddy Rerko opened the fourth with a layup to push Colgate's lead to five. An 8-2 run by Holy Cross, capped by a layup from junior guard Kelly Petro, put the Crusaders up 59-58 with 6:07 remaining, but Colgate immediately responded with a 3-pointer. LaBarbera hit a layup with 4:32 remaining to tie the game at 61-61.
- With the score deadlocked, Frank made one of two free throws with 2:07 left to take a one-point lead. After four missed free throws by the Crusaders, Power-Cassidy hit a free throw to make it a 62-62 game with 23 seconds left.
- Colgate called a timeout, but was unable to inbound the ball within five seconds, returning possession to Holy Cross. A travel by the Crusaders, however, gave the ball back to the Raiders.
- Power-Cassidy was fouled after rebounding a missed layup by Colgate, and she returned to the line; she missed her first free throw but made the second to put Holy Cross ahead, 63-62, with three seconds left, and the Raiders were unable to get a shot up in the final seconds of the game.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Ezemma's 17 rebounds broke her previous career high of 16, set at Army on Feb. 20, 2019.
- Power-Cassidy has reached double figures in three of her last four games; her eight rebounds bested her previous collegiate high of five.
- Holy Cross is 4-2 through its first six games for the third straight season. The Crusaders also began Patriot League play with a 4-2 record in 2020.
- The victory marked Maureen Magarity's 150th career win as a head coach.
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross heads to Bethlehem, Pa., for a pair of contests at Lehigh on Jan. 23 and 24.
- Tipoff for both contests is set for 12 p.m.
