PITTSBURGH – Trailing by a high of 21 points in the third quarter, Holy Cross women's basketball came within two possessions late in the fourth quarter before eventually falling 67-56 to non-conference opponent the University of Pittsburgh Wednesday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center.

Senior Avery LaBarbera powered Holy Cross (6-5, 0-0 PL) with her fourth double-double of the campaign and seventh in her collegiate career scoring a game-high 16 points with a season-high tying 11 boards and seven assists. Senior Madison Demski, making her return to the Pittsburgh area dumped in 12 points and was 4-for-8 (50%) from three-point range. Her four three-point conversions were a career-high. Sophomore Janelle Allen joined her teammates in double-figures with 11 markers and five caroms going 5-for-8 (62.5%) from the hardwood.

Pitt (9-4, 0-2 ACC) was led by three players in double figures including Dayshanette Harris who stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross held the early edge at 7-5 then Pitt exploded for a 15-0 scoring spurt capped off by a Taisha Exanor fast break lay-in to lead 20-7. Allen halted the run via a second-chance bucket to bring the deficit to 11, at 20-9.
• Demski started the second quarter knocking down a triple to pull the Crusaders within 12, 24-12 at the 8:23 mark. Pitt only added on three more markers to up their edge to 27-12 at the media stoppage. LaBarbera put her team down 15 hitting a jumper in the paint with 1:48 left, the last markers of the first half.
• Pitt jumpstarted the new stanza knocking home six straight points to open up a 21 point advantage. At the 7:07 mark, Allen snared her third offensive board and offensive putback of the game for the Crusaders. LaBarbera buried a trifecta and hit a jumper to put her team down 17. Demski caught fire hitting three straight shots from range as Pitt led 48-32 through three.
• In the fourth, Holy Cross went on a 13-5 binge over 5:35 to drop the margin to two possessions at 53-47. Senior Kelly Petro made it a nine point game, 49-40 with a driving layup through traffic. Pitt regained the double-figure advantage at 53-40, however freshman Lindsay Berger and sophomore Bronagh Power-Cassidy recorded seven straight points with Power-Cassidy swishing a three and cleaning up a missed shot which resulted in two via the charity stripe. The Panthers tacked on a few more points and Allen split a pair of freebies with 1:25 to go, but Exanor iced the game from range with under a minute to go.

OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• LaBarbera has double-doubled in four of the last five games averaging 15.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game in those five contests.
• With the 7-5 lead in the opening frame, Holy Cross went 5:44 without a made basket in the first quarter during the Panthers scoring outburst.
• LaBarbera had a game-best eight rebounds in the first half.
• Demski was 3-for-4 (75%) behind the three-point line in the third for nine points.
• Both teams scored seven points each in the second quarter.

 
UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross begins Patriot League action next Wednesday, December 29th on the road at Navy with tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m.