LEWISBURG, Pa. – Senior Avery LaBarbera scored 30 points for the second time this year and hit the game-winning jumper in overtime as Holy Cross women's basketball won their fourth straight game defeating Patriot League opponent Bucknell 63-62 Saturday afternoon in Sojka Pavilion. Holy Cross moved into a tie for first place in the Patriot League with the victory.

Out of a timeout trailing by one under 30 seconds left, LaBarbera took the rock from the top of the point and drove to the left elbow, stopped, and popped a shot that tickled the twine. Holy Cross (12-6, 6-1 PL) got a stop on the defensive end to preserve the victory. LaBarbera gathered 11 rebounds for her ninth straight double-double and was 5-for-8 (62.5%%) from beyond-the-arc. Sophomore Cara McCormack totaled 13 points in a starting role and senior Oluchi Ezemma chipped in nine points and seven rebounds.

For Bucknell (13-5, 4-2 PL), Marly Walls scored a team-high 14 points with six rebounds, five assists, and five turnovers.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Bucknell jumped ahead 7-2 in the early stages and their lead grew to two possessions 10-4 when Walls knocked down a triple and drove to the rack for two points increasing their lead to 12-4 with 4:24 left in the first. The Crusaders kept battling and trailed 16-9 at the end of one.
• The Holy Cross defense stiffened in the second quarter holding their opponents to 2-of-8 (25%) shooting until the media timeout. They kept attacking and eventually LaBarbera dished off a pass from under the hoop that bounced to McCormack for three to give HC their first lead of the game at 21-20. Bucknell eventually regained the edge then McCormack drove for two and LaBarbera hit a half court three with four seconds left in the second as Holy Cross led 30-28 at the break.
• Both teams failed to convert a shot until McCormack drained a triple at the 7:41 mark increasing the margin to 33-28. A LaBarbera trifecta on the right wing kept the Crusaders two-possession lead intact, but Taylor O'Brien was fouled at the media timeout and knocked down the freebie cutting it to a 38-35 deficit. Holy Cross eventually had a one point, 43-42 advantage after three.
• Emma Shaffer came alive in the early part of the fourth dumping in a second chance bucket and an old-fashioned three point play minus the freebie to regain the margin 49-47 with 7:40 remaining. LaBarbera drained shots down the stretch for Holy Cross eventually putting them in the lead 55-53, however, Walls and O'Brien put home points to move their squad ahead 56-55. LaBarbera split free throw attempts and the Crusaders forced OT.
• In overtime, McCormack produced five of the seven Holy Cross points. McCormack drilled a catch and shoot long range jumper with 4:09 left for a 59-58 Crusader lead. She then tacked on two at the line for a three point, 61-58 margin. Walls and O'Brien canned shots to regain the lead towards their side at 62-61. LaBarbera then countered with the game-winner.

OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• Walls scored 10 of Bucknell's 16 points in the first quarter shooting 4-for-5 (80%) and 2-for-2 from deep. She went 2-for-8 (25%) the rest of the game.
• LaBarbera's 30 points matched a career-high that she recorded this season vs. Lehigh (1/8/22) and vs. Brown (11/8/18).
• The win was the Crusaders' first at Bucknell since a 53-52 victory on January 10, 2015

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross returns home on Wednesday, January 26th to duel American (11-5, 4-2 PL) at 5:00 p.m.