WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's basketball became the first Patriot League team to 10 wins on Monday afternoon following a 53-40 victory against the United States Naval Academy in the Hart Center Arena.
Junior
Bronagh Power-Cassidy was the leading scorer in the contest with 15 points, three three-pointers, a team-high matching six boards, and two steals for the Crusaders (10-3, 2-0 PL). Classmate
Cara McCormack joined Power-Cassidy in double figures with 12 points and four boards. Forwards
Janelle Allen and
Lindsay Berger produced nine points each while freshman
Kaitlyn Flanagan had three steals and three assists.
Navy (0-13, 0-2 PL) suffered their 14th straight loss dating back to last year. Kate Samson dealt with foul trouble all game, fouling out midway through the fourth quarter. She played only 13 minutes and scored a team-best 11 markers. Six of Samson's 11 point came within the opening 1:31 of the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- A Samson layup put the Midshipmen ahead 6-2 in the early stages. Power-Cassidy swatted a shot attempt on the low block and on the ensuing Crusader possession, she drilled a corner three for the 9-6 Crusader edge. The margin grew to 12-6 thanks to 10 consecutive Crusader points. Navy came within one 14-13 as Sam Schofield canned a triple. Holy Cross led 16-13 through one.
- Navy regained the advantage 18-16 scoring the opening five markers of the second quarter. Holy Cross jumped back in the lead at 20-18 when Power-Cassidy scored on the low right block. A Berger baseline jumper coupled with a freshman Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly mid-range connection grew the margin to 26-21. The Mids tacked on a bucket to make it 26-23 at the break.
- Samson began the third knocking down two buckets to push her team ahead 27-26. Back-to-back Power-Cassidy triples moved Holy Cross back in the lead at 32-27. The Crusaders remained ahead 36-29 through three periods.
- McCormack drove from the left wing and banked a floater off the glass while being fouled for the hoop and farm which established a multiple score lead at 39-31. Berger gave the hosts a double-digit lead 43-32 via a second chance lay-in. McCormack sank a three-ball on the right wing for the largest Crusader lead 51-34 with 1:49 left.
OUTSIDE THE BOX:
- The Crusaders held an opponent below 50 points for the sixth time this year. They are 6-0 in those contests.
- The Mids went to the free throw line only five times. That is the lowest amount a team has gone to the stripe against the Crusaders this year.
- 16 of Navy's 23 turnovers came in the first half.
- The last time the Crusaders started a season 10-3 through 13 games was 2013-14.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross travels to the District of Columbia to square off against American on Thursday, Jan. 5.
- Tip-off is scheduled 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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