WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's basketball team trailed by nine points twice but slowly chipped away at their deficit before exploding for a 25-9 fourth quarter picking up their fourth straight win 74-62 over nonconference foe Stonehill Thursday evening at the Hart Center Arena.
The Crusaders (7-2) went into the fourth stanza behind 53-49 and a Skyhawks (2-7) lay-in expanded the lead to two scores, 55-49 with 9:06 to play. From that point on Holy Cross connected on their first seven field goals of the final period including two triples to establish a 65-58 lead with 4:56 left. It was the second comeback victory for the Crusaders this year as they trailed Connecticut College by 11 points on November 20.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Stonehill started hot from range building up a 13-4 on the strength of the three ball. Back-to-back buckets underneath by junior Janelle Allen and freshman Kaitlyn Flanagan brought the margin to 13-8. A senior Addisyn Cross three-pointer that she banked in from the corner off the glass pulled the Crusaders within two, 16-14. Stonehill led 18-14 through one.
- Holy Cross brought the margin to one, 29-28 in the second quarter when Allen converted a layup down low via a junior Bronagh Power-Cassidy pass. Two Skyhawk free throws by Sharn Hayward increased their lead to four, 37-33 at the break.
- A three-pointer and a Maddie Loder mid-range jumper reestablished the nine point edge for the guests with 8:18 left in the third. Allen, waiting at the top of the key found a cutting Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly for the reverse back door layup to bring the Crusaders within three, 42-39. Minutes later, junior Cara McCormack buried a trifecta to drop the margin to two, 44-42. Stonehill kept answering as they regained a multiple score lead heading into the fourth.
- Holy Cross could not miss early in the fourth. Addisyn Cross knocked down a pull up triple on the right wing to tie the contest at 56 all forcing Stonehill into a 30-second timeout. McCormack placed a pass to Berger on the post at the 6:58 mark for the first advantage of the game for the Crusaders. On the next Skyhawk possession, the Crusaders clamped down and forced a shot clock violation. Power-Cassidy made them pay by swishing a left corner three-ball. McCormack converted an easy layup to cap off the run of seven straight made field goals.
OUTSIDE THE BOX:
- Five players scored double-digit points for Holy Cross (Power-Cassidy – 17, Allen – 16, Flanagan – 11, Berger – 10, McCormack – 10).
- Flanagan came up with a personal-best four steals in the game.
- McCormack dished out a career-high seven assists and was a contest-best +24 when she was on the court.
- The Crusaders dominated the paint outscoring their counterparts 48-to-30.
- Holy Cross was 10-of-13 (76.9) from the field in the fourth quarter. Stonehill went 4-of-16 (25.0%).
- The Crusaders shot 58.6% (17-of-29) from the hardwood in the second half.
- The 74 points was a season-high for Holy Cross.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders head to Massachusetts-Lowell Sunday, Dec. 11 for their final nonconference contest.
- Tip-off is scheduled for 2 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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