BOSTON – In a battle for sole possession of first place in the Patriot League, the Holy Cross women's basketball team was beat 74-56 against in-state rival Boston University in Case Gymnasium Wednesday evening.

The Crusaders (16-9, 10-4 PL) held a 19-9 lead in the first quarter but were out produced 42-18 in the second and third stanzas by the Terriers (15-10, 11-3 PL). Senior Avery LaBarbera had a full line with a game-high 20 points to go with nine rebounds, a career-high matching five steals, and four assists. Sophomore Janelle Allen produced her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Classmate Cara McCormack drained four three-pointers for a total of 12 markers.

Four Terriers reached double-figures in a balanced scoring attack. Alex Giannaros was 6-of9 (66.7%) from the floor and 3-for-4 (75%) from deep in a 16 point five assist effort. Maren Durant tallied a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds – offensive and five blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• LaBarbera opened the scoring with a steal and coast-to-coast layup. A few possessions later, LaBarbera was trapped on the wing and superior ball movement resulted in junior Addisyn Cross knocking down a wing three to lead 7-3. Sophomore Bronagh Power-Cassidy then heated up connecting on a baseline out-of-bounds play and a three at the top of the point which upped the Crusader lead to 12-5. The Crusaders built the margin to 10, 17-7 when LaBarbera plucked a rebound and went coast to coast for the and1. Senior Oluchi Ezemma expanded the lead with a second-chance bucket to lead 19-7 with 1:45 left in the quarter.
• Behind 19-9 in the second, BU opened the new period outscoring Holy Cross 6-2 and using a Sydney Johnson hoop and harm to come within five, 21-16. An Allen floater temporarily halted momentum, but BU's run extended to 18-3 to jump ahead 34-26. McCormack buried a three which put her team down 34-29 at the half.
• In the third, the Crusaders pulled within two, 37-35 on a LaBarbera post score. The Terriers knocked down 12 straight points including a Sophie Beneventine corner trifecta to lead 49-35 at the 3:27 mark.
• Holy Cross dropped their margin to 11 early in the fourth as McCormack drained a transition three. BU eventually increased their lead to a game-high 20 in the quarter.

OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• Holy Cross has shot lower than 30% in their last two games.
• Over their last three games, the Crusaders are 36-for-42 (85.7%) at the free throw line.
• This was the sixth game this season that LaBarbera has scored 20 or more points.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross hosts Navy on Saturday for a Senior Day contest at noon.