WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's basketball team fell in its home opener against Boston University by a score of 72-56 on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
Freshman
Cara McCormack had her second consecutive game in double figures for the Crusaders, with 18 points, including four 3-pointers. All of her points came in the second half. Junior
Oluchi Ezemma pulled down 10 rebounds – with seven offensive boards – while scoring six points, and junior
Avery LaBarbera finished with eight points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Katie Nelson led the way for the Terriers with 20 points and six assists. Maggie Pina also finished in double figures with 11 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Holy Cross had an early 6-4 lead off of a pair of buckets from Ezemma and freshman Bronagh Power-Cassidy. The Terriers scored six unanswered points to take a 10-6 lead with 4:33 to go, but the Crusaders drew back-to-back charges from BU and cut within 10-8 after a basket from junior Kelly Petro.
- With BU leading 11-8, sophomore Addisyn Cross had a steal and a layup to bring Holy Cross within one point before the Terriers had four unanswered to carry a 15-10 lead into the second quarter.
- The Terriers outscored Holy Cross 17-4 to open the second quarter, leading 32-14 with 2:51 to go before Power-Cassidy had a free throw and a layup to bring the Crusaders within 15 with about 20 seconds left in the half. Nelson got a 3-pointer back for BU, however, to give the Terriers an 18-point advantage at halftime.
- Ezemma and Petro hit back-to-back baskets to begin the third before BU responded with five points of their own. With 4:39 left in the third, Cross made a nice feed to junior Madison Demski, who scored a layup and converted on an and-one to bring the Crusaders within 16.
- The Terriers' lead grew to 25 points, 55-30, with 16 seconds remaining in the third.
- Led by a fourth-quarter surge from McCormack, who scored 16 points in the final frame, the Crusaders were able to chip away at BU's lead. A 3-pointer by McCormack made it an 11-point game, 67-56, with 1:27 left in the fourth. In total, Holy Cross outscored the Terriers 24-17 in the final frame.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- McCormack has tallied 29 points in her first two games as a Crusader. She is the first Holy Cross rookie to post back-to-back games in double figures to open her career since Lauren Manis in 2016.
- The Crusaders recorded 21 offensive rebounds, their most in a single game since pulling down 24 offensive boards against Vermont on Nov. 28, 2018.
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross will head to Army West Point for a 3 p.m. matchup on Saturday, Jan. 9.