WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senior
Bronagh Power-Cassidy scored a game and season-high matching 24 points as the Holy Cross women's basketball team dropped a 74-68 decision to Patriot League foe American Saturday afternoon in Bender Arena.
The loss sends the Crusaders to 14-8 overall and 8-3 in the conference. American moves to 9-13 and 7-4 in the Patriot League.
Power-Cassidy scored 19 of her 24 points in the first half. She finished shooting 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from the field and set a career-high with six three-pointers going 75 percent (6-for-8) from range. Teammate, junior
Lindsay Berger finished with 12 markers on 66.7 percent (6-of-9) field goal efficiency while sophomore
Kaitlyn Flanagan had 10 points and seven assists.
American had four players in double figures including Anna LeMaster's 16 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Flanagan found Power-Cassidy on the wing for a catch and shoot three to make it 7-4 Crusaders early. American took the lead and Berger anticipated a pass and took off for the steal and fast break score to pull the Crusaders within one, 11-10. American converted a four point play to increase their edge to 19-12 with two minutes and change left. Holy Cross trailed 25-19 after 10 minutes.
- An 8-4 start to the second including a pair of Power-Cassidy triples put the Crusaders down 29-27. American countered with a 9-2 run of their own to increase the lead to nine, 38-29 as Holy Cross took a timeout. The Crusaders went on a 11-4 burst of their own to trail by two at the break 42-40 with senior Janelle Allen connecting on a layup at the buzzer.
- During the third stanza, Power-Cassidy's sixth three gave Holy Cross a one point, 52-51 lead with 5:28 to play. That was the start of a 9-2 run as Holy Cross built a five point lead, 58-53. American trailed by one through three quarters.
- Both squads traded points through the majority of the fourth. American led by three, 68-65 following a pair of freebies with under three minutes left. Still trailing by three, Flanagan drove to the rack and was fouled, she made both at the line making it a one point game, 69-68 American with 44.6 seconds left. American called a timeout and got an easy inbounds play to reestablish the three point edge, 71-68. Holy Cross had two chances at a game tying three, but they were off the mark.
OUTSIDE THE BOX:
- Holy Cross lost for the first time this season when scoring 65 or more points (8-1, .889).
- Power-Cassidy became the first Crusader since 2021 to record six three-pointers in a contest.
- Power-Cassidy moved into seventh place on the program's all-time three-pointer list passing Lisa Mifsud (2012-16, 158).
- Flanagan's eight free throw conversions were a career-high.
- Freshman Hannah Griffin played 11 minutes of action and was a team-best +7 when she was on the court.
- The Holy Cross defense allowed season-highs in points (74) and field goal percentage (52.9 percent).
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross returns home to the Hart Center Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 14 for a Play4Kay game against conference foe Colgate (11-11, 4-7 PL) at 7 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
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Twitter - @HCrossWBB | @goholycross
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