MILWAUKEE – Holy Cross women's basketball junior forward
Janelle Allen produced a career-high 20 points as the Crusaders were defeated 75-55 by nonconference opponent Marquette Friday night in the Al McGuire Center.
The Crusaders (1-1) trailed by four at halftime and by five midway through the third until the Golden Eagles (2-0) built up a double-digit point lead thanks to a 12-2 stretch which opened up the game.
Allen did the heavy lifting in the first half scoring 14 of the Crusaders' 25 points. The 20 markers were a game-high as she shot 8-for-13 (61.5%) from the floor and had a contest-best three blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Holy Cross scored the first points as freshman Kaitlyn Flanagan drove through the paint to the rack. On the next Crusader possession, senior Addisyn Cross got into the passing lane picking off a pass, but Holy Cross turned the ball over.
- Marquette went on a 12-2 run to push ahead 12-4. The Crusaders got a stop when freshman Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly picked off a pass, led the break and found junior Bronagh Power-Cassidy for the easy two to make it 12-6. Donnelly made an over the back pass to sophomore Lindsay Berger in the lane and knocked down a step-back mid-range on the wing to bring the score to 15-10. This was all part of an 8-0 burst as the Golden Eagles were held scoreless through the final 4:44 of the first quarter.
- Holy Cross pulled within one, 19-18 at the 7:24 mark as Allen powered home a layup off the glass. Marquette built up a two possession game then Flanagan passed on the baseline under the hoop to Donnelly in the left corner for the trifecta to make it 24-23 with 2:58 left before the break. Holy Cross trailed 29-25 at the intermission.
- The Golden Eagles expanded their lead to double figures for the first time in the third quarter when Chloe Marotta split a pair of free throws. Their edge expanded to 14, 47-33 after a Mackenzie Hare layup. This was all part of a 12-2 run for the hosts to lead by 15. The Crusaders trailed 52-39 at the end of the third.
- The hosts tacked onto their lead to hold a 20 point margin late in the fourth.
OUTSIDE THE BOX:
- Addisyn Cross matched a career-high with four steals.
- Marquette capitalized on the Holy Cross mistakes scoring 20 points off turnovers compared to four for the Crusaders.
- Mackenzie Hare scored 18 points off the bench going 5-for-10 (50.0%) from distance.
- Marquette is 56-3 (.949) under head coach Megan Duffy when leading at halftime and is 37-4 (.902) when scoring 70 or more points in her tenure.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross hosts nonconference opponent New Hampshire next Wednesday, November 16 for their home opener.
- Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
- Season tickets and single-game tickets for the 2022-23 campaign are now on sale through the Holy Cross Ticket Office.
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS
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