WORCESTER, Mass.— The Holy Cross women's basketball team was edged by the Massachusetts Minutewomen, 61-58, on Friday night at the Hart Center.
Holy Cross (1-3, 0-0 PL) sophomore
Janelle Allen tied a career-high with 15 points, and set a new career-high with six boards. Senior
Avery LaBarbera led all Crusaders with 16 points, and four three-pointers.
The Minutewomen (4-0, 0-0 A-10) were led by Sam Breen who chipped in 19 points and 13 rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Holy Cross opened the game red-hot, leading by 13-2, with LaBarbera tallying five in the early going. The Crusaders finished out the quarter with a 22-9 lead and outscored the Minutewomen, 9-7, as UMass got some baskets to fall their way.
- After LaBarbera hit a three to open the second quarter, UMass went on a 14-4 run to bring the score to 29-23. Holy Cross managed to take a 32-27 lead into the half.
- The Minutewomen tied the game, 34-34 just over two minutes into the third frame off a Ber'Nyah Mayo layup. UMass got its first lead of the night 37-36, following a Sydney Taylor three-pointer. The third continued in back-and-forth fashion with Holy Cross owning a 47-46 advantage at the end of the quarter.
- In the final frame, UMass opened the scoring with a 4-0 run before Allen got a bucket. With just nine seconds to go in the game, UMass held a five-point advantage until sophomore Bronagh Power-Cassidy hit a three-pointer to bring the Crusaders within two. The Minutewomen went on to hit one of their final two foul shots to close out the game with a 61-58 victory.
BEYOND THE BOX:
- LaBarbera tied to lead all players with three steals.
- Junior Addisyn Cross set a new career-high with four assists.
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders will close out their three-game homestand against Connecticut College on Monday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m.
