HAMDEN, Conn. – The Holy Cross women's basketball senior captain duo of
Cara McCormack and
Janelle Allen scored a game-high 17 points each, but the Crusaders dropped a 66-63 decision to nonconference opponent Quinnipiac Sunday afternoon in the M&T Bank Arena.
The loss sends the Crusaders to 4-5 while the Bobcats move to 3-5.
Sophomore
Meg Cahalan made a three with 10 seconds left to put the guests down two. Quinnipiac went to the line and split free throws. Holy Cross had a chance to tie the game on their last possession, but a pull off triple was off the mark.
McCormack totaled with three steals and blocked a shot in the contest. Allen shot 50 percent (7-for-14) with five boards, two assists and a block.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- McCormack anticipated a pass and picked it off then immediately went the other way for two on the opening possession. Quinnipiac drilled a three from the top of the point to make it 9-6 near the media timeout. Another three doubled up the margin 12-6 in favor of Quinnipiac. McCormack's ninth point of the period pulled the Crusaders within three 14-11 before the hosts led 16-11 through one.
- A pair of banked in three-balls from junior Lauren Huber and sophomore Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly put Holy Cross down one, 20-19 with 6:25 left before the break. Allen found Huber for the reverse lay-in to regain the lead for the Crusaders at 26-25 at the 4:46 mark. The hosts closed the half on a 12-4 burst to lead 37-30.
- Quinnipiac built their edge to 10, 45-35 getting easy looks close to the basket. Sophomore Kaitlyn Flanagan found Allen for a bunny jumper to trim the Crusader deficit to six, 45-39. The advantage grew back to nine until the Crusaders dropped it to four, 48-44 when junior Lindsay Berger split one of two at the line. The Bobcats had a 54-47 lead through three.
- A 11-4 Crusader stretch to begin the final stanza made it 58-58 as McCormack buried a corner three with 4:06 left. The hosts scored with 1:06 to go to open up a 62-58 margin. The Crusaders turned up the pressure as Donnelly came up with a steal and sophomore Simone Foreman collected the missed layup for two. Flanagan stole the rock on the ensuing possession and Holy Cross called timeout with 37 seconds left. Holy Cross missed the lay-in and was called for traveling. Quinnipiac missed a pair of free throws and secured the offensive board they split one of two at the line and the Crusaders turned over the rock on their second to last possession.
OUTSIDE THE BOX:
- McCormack scored 12 of her 17 points in the first half.
- Holy Cross shot 63.6 percent (7-for-11) in the third quarter.
- 13 of Allen's 17 markers came in the second half.
- Flanagan handed out a game-best five assists.
- Berger was one point and one rebound shy of a double-double.
- Holy Cross only led for 2:01 of the contest.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross begins a four game home stand next Sunday, Dec. 17 when they host Northeastern for Youth Basketball Day at 2 p.m.
- Season tickets and single-game tickets for the 2023-24 campaign are now on sale through the Holy Cross Ticket Office.
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross women's basketball team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossWBB | @goholycross
Instagram - @hcrosswbb | @goholycross
Facebook - Holy Cross Women's Basketball | Holy Cross Athletics
YouTube - GoHolyCross
