HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Holy Cross women's basketball team pulled away in the second half to defeat Colgate, 61-40, on Saturday, Feb. 13.

Holy Cross (6-5, 6-5 Patriot League) outscored the Raiders 31-12 in the second half to earn the victory. Four Crusaders finished in double figures, led by freshman Bronagh Power-Cassidy, who had 13 points to go with five rebounds and four assists. Junior Avery LaBarbera had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Junior Oluchi Ezemma had 10 points and nine rebounds, along with two blocks and two steals, and junior Madison Demski finished with 10 points and four rebounds.

Alexa Brodie and Keelah Dixon led Colgate (1-8, 1-8 Patriot League) with nine points each.

Following today's contest, it was determined that the Colgate women's basketball program is unable to play Sunday versus Holy Cross as a result of falling below the NCAA minimum number of healthy student-athletes that could compete.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross took a 10-3 lead with 3:51 to go in the first after Power-Cassidy and freshman Cara McCormack hit back-to-back threes to cap off an 8-0 run.
• With the Crusaders leading 20-12, Colgate tied it at 20-20 with 4:49 left in the half after an 8-0 run; Holy Cross went back ahead 27-22 with 2:35 to go in the half. After the Raiders had six unanswered points to take a 28-27 lead, LaBarbera drained a three with seven seconds remaining to give Holy Cross the advantage at the half.
• After Brodie hit a jumper to open the second half, Ezemma scored Holy Cross' first six points of the third quarter to spark a 15-0 run for the Crusaders.
• Brodie had a steal and a layup to end the scoring drought, but Demski made a three on the other end to put the Crusaders up by 16, 48-32, with 2:18 to go in the third. Holy Cross outscored the Raiders 20-6 in the third frame, and eight of Demski's 10 points came in the third quarter.
• Sophomore Kerry Flaherty made a three to push the Holy Cross advantage to 19, 53-34, with 8:17 to go. The Crusaders' lead grew as high as 23, 61-38, when Power-Cassidy made a layup with 3:15 remaining.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• This marks Holy Cross' third victory this season by a margin of 20 or more points. Of the Crusaders' six wins this season, five have come by a double-digit margin.
• Demski's 10 points matched her career high.

UP NEXT:

• Due to the cancellation of Sunday's contest, Holy Cross will next be in action on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Boston University.