DURHAM, N.H. – Senior Avery LaBarbera made two clutch shots down the stretch including a game-winning buzzer beater floater in traffic as the Crusaders left the University of New Hampshire with a 50-49 victory on Wednesday evening at the Lundholm Gymnasium. With the win, Holy Cross improves to 5-4 while the Wildcats fall to 3-5.

LaBarbera finished the low scoring affair with a team-high 12 points scoring seven of them in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Janelle Allen also stepped up her game in the fourth pouring in seven of her 11 markers on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting.

With 2:12 to play, LaBarbera dove on the floor corralled a loose ball with the shot clock winding down, and heaved up an attempt from the parking lot that banked in off the window to give Holy Cross the 46-44 lead. Ivy Gogolin responded with an old fashioned three point play then Allen powered a layup on the block for the 48-47 edge. Seven seconds remained when Amanda Torres went to the charity stripe and connected on two free throws which left Holy Cross with the last possession. Time dwindled down and LaBarbera caught the ball at the top of the point, drove in, and floated home the game-winner. It was head coach Maureen Magarity's first win in her first attempt coaching against UNH, the program she led previously for 10 seasons.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Allen put home the first points with a lay-up in the painted area. From there the Wildcats put together the next five points to lead 5-2 at the first media timeout. Following the stoppage, the Crusaders put together eight straight markers to push ahead 10-5 as junior Addisyn Cross ripped the rock away and found LaBarbera streaking down the floor for the hoop and harm. Holy Cross led 14-8 after one.
• Both programs combined for only 19 points in the second quarter. Holy Cross built leads of five points twice before opening a six point edge, 22-16 when sophomore Steph Davis popped a turnaround jumper from the free throw line. Kenzie Matulonis drilled a triple making it a 22-19 game at the intermission. Holy Cross scored 13 of their 22 markers off turnovers while UNH shot 26.9% (7-for-26) in the first half.
• UNH took their first lead since the first quarter when Sophia Widmeyer buried a three-ball from the right corner to push ahead 26-24. The Wildcats led 29-28 through three.
• Allen began the fourth with a hoop and harm and a few seconds later had another one minus the freebie to level the margin at 35 all. With under three minutes to go, LaBarbera took over the game.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• After scoring a combined 41 points in the first half, both teams scored a total of 42 points in the fourth quarter.
• Holy Cross dominated the paint outscoring UNH 30-to-18 in the post.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross heads back home to the friendly confines of the Hart Center Arena on Sunday, December 12 for a non-conference showdown with Stetson at noon.