This past Wednesday, both Holy Cross basketball teams went and faced off against Viterbo, and while the men’s team took a 72-59 win, the women’s team did not fare as well, taking a close 81-78 loss.
Men’s team
The men’s basketball team improved to 3-4 on the season so far and 1-0 in conference play after its win over Viterbo.
The Saints started off the first half strong as senior guard Justin O’Neal put in a three-pointer to take the 3-0 lead. Viterbo responded by putting up a layup, but a three-point shot from senior guard Phil Robles II and O’Neal, the score was brought to 9-2. With the two teams going back and forth for points keeping the score close, a jump shot from freshman forward Davide Brembilla and senior guard Nash Hostetler helped pull the Saints ahead to an 18-15 lead. With neither team scoring in the next few minutes, Viterbo put in a free throw, but the Saints responded with a three-point shot from senior guard Justin Milch and a jump shot from sophomore guard Joey Garwood. As Viterbo landed five more points for themselves, Milch added on a three-pointer, Robles added on a jump shot and a three-point shot, sophomore forward Aris Duni added a jump shot and O’Neal added on a jump shot to bring the score to 35-21. Viterbo managed two more points, but the Saints again responded as Brembilla put in a free throw and Robles added on a three-point shot to make the score 39-23. Viterbo rounded out the first half with a jump shot and a three-point shot to make the halftime score 39-28.
Viterbo scored first in the second half of the game, but the Saints responded quickly as junior guard AJ Roseman made a jump shot and Robles added a three-point shot to bring the score to 44-33. A quick response from Viterbo proved to be no matter to the Saints as Hostetler added a jump shot, Garwood added a three-point shot and junior Joe Kelly added two free throws to bring the score to 51-36. After a shooting foul was called on the Saints, Viterbo was given two free throws and made both, but Holy Cross did not hesitate to respond with both Robles and O’Neal making three-point shots. After a few minutes, Viterbo put up 10 points, but Hostetler put in a three-point shot, Garwood added three free throws and Robles added two free throws to make the score 64-48. After Viterbo scored nine more points, Duni put up a jump shot, Hostetler added on a three-point shot and Robles put in a free throw to make the score 72-57. Even though Viterbo added the last two points of the game, the final score was 72-59.
Robles led on the court for the Saints with a total of 23 points, and Roseman led on the inside with a total of 10 rebounds. With this win, the Saints are preparing to head back on the road and face off against Indiana University South Bend on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Women’s team
The women’s basketball team fell to 4-3 on the season so far and 0-1 in conference play as it took a three-point loss against Viterbo.
Viterbo put up the first three points of the first quarter, but the Saints responded quickly as freshman forward Allie Caldwell put in a three-pointer to tie up the score. Viterbo then scored four points, but Caldwell kept the ball rolling by putting in a jump shot to keep the score within two. While the two teams went back and forth, freshman guard La’Bria Austin put in a layup and a three-point shot to make the score 10-7, but Viterbo responded with two layups to regain the 11-10 lead. Sophomore forward Brooke Lindesmith quickly took action, putting up her first two points of the night. Austin then added a three-point shot, and senior guard Jordyn Smith added two points to bring the score to 17-11. Viterbo scored the final two points of the quarter to make the score 17-13 in favor of the Saints.
Senior forward Grace Adams added on her first two points of the night in the second quarter to bring the score up to 19-13. In response, Viterbo went on a 16-0 run to take the 29-19 lead, but Smith added on a jump shot, senior guard Kayliana Hammel added two free throws, Caldwell added three jump shots and a free throw and Adams added two free throws and a jump shot to regain the 34-32 lead. Viterbo finished the second quarter with a bucket to tie the score up at 34.
Adams started off the third quarter for the Saints as she put up two points to take the 36-34 lead, but two more points from Viterbo tied up the score again at 36. The two teams continued to go back and forth until five points from Adams and a jump shot from Smith helped the Saints take the 45-42 lead. Austin added on more points for herself, Hammel added on two points and Smith added on two more points to bring the score to 52-43, but five points from Viterbo brought the score closer at 52-48. Sophomore guard Lilly Toppen added on her first two points of the night alongside Austin to bring the score to 56-48, but Viterbo added on four more points to close the score to 56-52. In response, Adams added two jump shots and junior guard Audrey Tallent added a jump shot to make the score 62-52 before Viterbo rounded out the third quarter with a three-point shot making the score 62-55.
Neither team scored in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, but Viterbo grabbed the first three points before Hammel quickly responded by adding three points of her own. Caldwell then added two, making the score 67-60. It was a back and forth end to the game as Viterbo added on five more points, but Adams added three points alongside Caldwell, who added two to make the score 73-67. Viterbo then went on a 14-2 run, ultimately taking the 81-78 win.
Caldwell led the Saints on offense with a total of 23 points, and Adams led the team with 10 rebounds. With this loss, the team is headed on the road to face Indiana University South Bend Nov. 26 at 5:30 p.m.
