WORCESTER, Mass - Holy Cross women's basketball sophomore forward
Lindsay Berger exploded for a career-high 22 points as the Crusaders rallied from a 12 point second quarter deficit to hand Patriot League regular season champion Boston University their first conference loss, 57-53 during a Turnpike Trophy contest in the Hart Center Arena.
The Crusaders (21-8, 13-5 PL) clinched the no. 2 seed in the upcoming 2023 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women's Basketball Championship and will play either no. 7 seed American or no. 10 seed Navy on Monday, Mar. 6 in the Hart Center Arena at 7 p.m.
Berger shot 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the floor doing work on the block while also burying mid-range jumpers. She recorded four rebounds and came away with a steal and a blocked shot in the personal-best performance. Berger was the only Crusader to reach double figures.
The setback snapped the Terriers' (22-7, 17-1) 17 game winning streak which as of Feb. 28 was the fifth longest active winning streak in the NCAA. Calitin Weimar and Maggie Pina were the leading scorers for BU with 11 points apiece. Weimar scored only two points in the second half.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Crusaders held a two point lead in the first quarter after a junior Janelle Allen lay-in. A Berger second chance post score following a sophomore Callie Wright offensive board and dime pulled the Crusaders within one, 9-8. BU closed the period on a 10-2 outburst to lead 19-10 through 10 minutes.
- The scoring outburst expanded to 15-4 when Pina canned a three-ball to open up the 12 point cushion, 24-12. Seven straight Crusader markers made it a two possession game, 24-19 with 4:51 left. Pina regained a multiple score lead at 26-19, however Holy Cross concluded the stanza outscoring their counterparts 10-to-4 to come within one, 30-29 at the intermission.
- Holy Cross came out of the locker room on a mission going 5-for-5 to start the new half and take a six point, 40-34 lead when junior Bronagh Power-Cassidy drained a left wing three. Freshman Kaitlyn Flanagan expanded the Crusader lead to eight, 46-38 taking the ball to the rack. Holy Cross remained ahead by six, when Allen made a push pass to Berger for two. BU then pulled within one at the 1:24 mark as Pina connected on a triple. The contest was tied 46-46 after three quarters.
- 46 seconds into the fourth, Berger canned a mid-range jumper for her first career 20 point outing and more importantly gave the Crusaders a 48-46 lead. Power-Cassidy sank another triple on the opposite wing to regain the edge at 52-49. Two scoreless minutes passed until Pina split 1-for-2 at the line for a 52-50 Holy Cross margin. Berger bullied her way in the paint and snared a crucial second chance rebound and score to add onto the lead, 54-50 with 1:48 left.
- With 1:02 to go Johnson threw in a step back three on the wing to drop the deficit to 54-53. BU earned a stop, but committed an offensive foul. Holy Cross took the clock down and Flanagan was fouled. She split one of two at the line. BU inbounded the ball with seven seconds left, but Sydney Johnson ran into a pick, lost the ball and freshman Simone Foreman scooped it up to seal the win.
OUTSIDE THE BOX:
- The Terriers came in at no. 18 in the most recent CollegeInsider.Com Women's Mid-Major Top-25 Poll on Feb. 28.
- Holy Cross held BU to only seven points in the fourth quarter and 16.7% (2-of-12) shooting.
- It was the Terriers first loss during 2022-23 (19-1) when leading at halftime and first when leading after the first quarter (17-1).
- The 53 points was the lowest amount BU has scored in a Patriot League contest this season.
- The Crusaders have seven comeback victories when trailing by seven or more points and three by 10+. The 12 point comeback was the second largest of the season for Holy Cross (13 points – vs. Lehigh, Jan. 11).
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders will play host to either no. 7 seed American or no. 10 seed Navy in the 2023 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women's Basketball Championship on Monday, Mar. 6.
- Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
- Tickets are now on sale through the Holy Cross Ticket Office.
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS
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