WORCESTER, Mass. - Freshman guard
Kaitlyn Flanagan filled the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists as the Holy Cross women's basketball team snapped their three game losing streak and clinched a Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinal Round home game with a 59-51 victory versus Loyola (Md.) during a Play4Kay game Wednesday evening in the Hart Center Arena.
Flanagan was aggressive all night for the Crusaders (19-8, 11-5 PL) making the extra pass and driving to the rack among the trees. She added a block and a steal for good measure. Junior
Bronagh Power-Cassidy scored a game-high 15 points to go with five boards and a 3-for-6 (50%) three-point shooting performance. The Dublin, Ireland native scored eight of her 15 points during the third quarter in which the Crusaders used a 12-0 run to turn a seven point deficit into a five point lead.
For Loyola (Md.) (9-18, 4-12 PL) Taleah Dixon was the leading scorer with 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Reigning Patriot League Player of the Week Lex Therien dealt with foul trouble all night and ended up scoring seven points on 2-of-10 (20%) field goal efficiency to go with a game-high 13 rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Crusaders took an early 7-3 lead when senior Addisyn Cross found Flanagan in the right corner for a trifecta. An 11-2 Greyhound burst capped off by a Devyne Newman bucket put the guests in front at 14-9. Two Flanagan freebies made it a 15-13 game after one.
- A Dixon mid-range jumper expanded the margin to 20-13 for the Hounds with 8:47 left before the break. Freshman Simone Forman split 1-of-2 free throws at the stripe to make it a 20-19 contest. Dixon got her hands into the passing lane and picked off a pass which resulted in a Kelly Ratigan layup for the five point 26-21 edge at the intermission.
- A pair of Raitgan charity line connections moved them back ahead by seven, 28-21. From there the Crusaders poured in 12 consecutive markers. jJnior Janelle Allen got the scoring started with a post move on the block. Power-Cassidy drained two triples from the top of the point to establish a five point 33-28 Crusader advantage. With 54 seconds left, sophomore Grace Munt cut to the basket and Allen found her for the easy layup opening up a 10 point 44-34 lead.
- Sophomore Callie Wright ended the 13-3 Holy Cross outburst with a second chance layup that gave the Crusaders their largest lead at 49-35. The Hounds countered with an 11-2 run of their own to make it two possession game with 3:25 to go. Two straight Flanagan field goals reestablished the nine point lead at 55-46. With the margin down to six, Loyola had to foul and the Crusaders were 4-for-4 at the line down the stretch.
OUTSIDE THE BOX:
- This was the sixth multiple possession comeback victory for the Crusaders this season of seven or more points.
- Holy Cross outscored the Greyhounds 23-to-9 in the third quarter.
- When Flanagan has four or more assists, the Crusaders are 9-1.
- All 12 of junior Cara McCormack's points came in the second half, she was perfect (3-for-3 FG, 2-for-2 3PT, 4-for-4 FT) from the hardwood over the final 20 minutes.
- The Crusaders are one victory away from the 23rd 20+ win season in program history.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders hit the road for a crucial battle with Patriot League Tournament seeding implications against Army West Point on Saturday, Feb. 25.
- Tip-off is scheduled for 1 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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