BALTIMORE – Freshman guard
Simone Foreman made a massive impact off the bench recording a career-high 17 points as the Holy Cross women's basketball team picked up their fourth straight win, a 53-46 victory against Patriot League opponent Loyola (Md.) Sunday afternoon at Reitz Arena.
Foreman played a season-high 23 minutes off the bench for the Crusaders (12-3, 4-0 PL). She was 7-of-10 (70%) from the floor with two steals, two rebounds and a block. Three other players scored eight points apiece, senior
Addisyn Cross, juniors
Janelle Allen and
Cara McCormack.
Loyola's (7-8, 2-2 PL) Lex Therien matched Foreman with 17 points to go with 10 rebounds for a double-double effort. Taleah Dixon racked up 12 points and five assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- McCormack gave the Crusaders a 3-2 lead by connecting on a three-ball early in the first. A Therien turnaround jumper increased the Hounds margin to 7-3. Loyola stayed in the lead by six following a Therien layup and Dixon slash to the rack at 13-7. A 9-2 quarter closing spurt gave the Crusaders a 16-15 lead as freshman Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly drained a corner three and Foreman cleaned up a miss down low.
- The Crusaders run expanded to 20-5. Holy Cross shot 7-of-10 (70%) during the burst connecting on two triples. Foreman scored seven of the 20 markers for the guests. The Crusader defense held the Greyhounds to 1-of-9 (.111) shooting during their run to lead 27-18. From there, Loyola scored the final seven points of the half to come within two, 27-25 at the break.
- Freshman Kaitlyn Flanagan received a pass from Cross and stopped at the right elbow draining a transition jumper for the 31-27 lead at the 8:03 mark. Loyola's Kelly Ratigan knocked down a three-ball from the corner to deadlock the game 33-33. A Foreman layup increased the Crusader score to 41-33 in the third.
- Going into the fourth, the Hounds tallied seven straight points to pull within one, 41-40. A Foreman mid-range jumper from the stripe gave the Crusaders a five point lead, 47-42 with 4:10 left. Loyola battled to make it a one score game, 46-43 thanks to a second chance bucket with 2:05 to play. Dixon tried twice to tie the game with three-pointers, but her attempts were off the mark as the Crusaders drained their free throws to ice the game.
OUTSIDE THE BOX:
- Therien and Dixon combined for 29 of the Greyhounds 46 points (63.0%).
- Holy Cross has held Patriot League teams to 44.0 points over four games, by far the best total in the conference (Boston University – 49.3).
- The Crusaders have started 4-0 in the league play for the first time since 2004-05 and for the seventh time in program history.
- The nine turnovers were a season-low for the Crusaders.
- Junior Bronagh Power-Cassidy scored zero points for the second time this season. Holy Cross is 1-1 in both those contests.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross returns home to the Hart Center Arena for an important Patriot League contest with Lehigh on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
- 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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