WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's basketball team was defeated 67-65 in overtime by Patriot League foe American Saturday afternoon in the Hart Center Arena.
The Crusaders (18-6, 10-3 PL) trailed by five a minute into the fourth quarter. A junior
Bronagh Power-Cassidy three-ball with 3:35 left gave the hosts a three point edge, 52-49. The Eagles (6-18, 5-8 PL) took a one point lead with 25 seconds to go in regulation leaving Holy Cross had one final possession. A Crusader student-athlete was fouled on her way to the rack and tied the game at 57-57 sinking her first freebie. She missed the second, but grabbed the board and barely missed a potential game winning runner.
In the extra frame, Kayla Henning put her squad ahead by four burying a mid-range jumper. Freshman
Kaitlyn Flanagan immediately cut the deficit to two and Holy Cross earned a stop, however they missed the ensuing chance while American's Molly Lavin canned post score to reestablish a four point lead. With nine seconds left senior
Addisyn Cross connected on a wing three point to drop the deficit to one, 66-65. Henning split free throws giving the Crusaders one last chance to tie or take the lead. Holy Cross fired a mid-range jumper at the buzzer that was off the mark as the guests left Worcester with a win.
Three players reached double digit points for the Crusaders including Power-Cassidy who produced a team-high 16 points with five rebounds and a career-high matching four assists. Junior
Janelle Allen added 15 points in 32 minutes off the bench and a game-high two blocks.
For American, Lauren Stack scored a game-high 17 points with six boards. Henning filled the stat sheet with 16 points, three steals, three assists and seven free throw conversions.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Holy Cross took a 5-2 lead early when Power-Cassidy drained a three on the right wing. Two Henning free throws gave the guests their first lead at 8-7. Power-Cassidy responded by canning a three from the top of the point to regain the edge at 10-8. With the contest level at 11-11, junior Cara McCormack hit a three off an assist by Allen for the 14-11 margin. American regained the lead at 15-14 but McCormack drove the baseline for the and1 with free throw to lead 17-15.
- Two Allen post scores increased the margin to two possessions at 21-15. American scored nine straight to take a three point lead, 24-21 at the 4:18 mark. Sophomore Lindsay Berger stopped the binge via a basket on the right block. American out produced the Crusaders 7-2 to lead 31-25 at the break.
- In the third, the post duo of Allen and Berger accounted for seven Crusader points as they came within one, 33-32. A Berger fast break lay in kept the Crusaders down one, 37-36. A three following a timeout off the shot of Sadie Stetson increased the lead to 42-38. Power-Cassidy converted two freebies to cut the deficit to 42-40.
OUTSIDE THE BOX:
- Holy Cross shot 54% (19-of-35) on baskets near the rim. American shot 53% (17-of-32).
- The Crusaders turned 19 American turnovers into 22 points.
- Holy Cross outscored their counterparts 12-to-0 on the fast break.
- Power-Cassidy scored her 750th career point in the first quarter.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders ship off to Boston on Wednesday to take on conference leader Boston University in a Turnpike Trophy contest.
- Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 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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