Both men's and women's Holy Cross basketball teams were in action this past weekend, facing off against the Bethel University (Ind.) Pilots.
Men’s basketball
The men’s basketball team fell to 2-4 on the season after taking a 76-56 loss to Bethel on Friday.
The Pilots took an early lead, scoring the first four points of the game. However, Saints sophomore guard Joey Garwood quickly answered, sinking a shot to make it 4-2. The Pilots responded with another four points to push their lead to 8-2, but senior guard Nash Hostetler and freshman forward Davide Brembilla each knocked down a jumper, narrowing the gap to 8-6. The teams exchanged baskets as the Pilots held a narrow lead, but Bethel soon pulled ahead with a six-point run, pushing the score to 16-10. The Saints responded when senior guard Justin O'Neal hit a jumper to bring the score to 16-12, but Bethel answered with a 10-point run, stretching their lead to 26-12. Despite the deficit, the Saints continued to battle. Sophomore forward Aris Duni and junior guard AJ Roseman each contributed a bucket, cutting the margin to 26-16. Both teams exchanged jump shots, bringing the score to 28-18 before Bethel hit another jumper to push the lead to 30-18.
As the first half wound down, Duni hit a free throw, Brembilla added a jumper and Garwood sank a mid-range shot, bringing the score to 30-23. However, the Pilots closed out the half with a 7-point run, taking a commanding 37-23 lead into the break. The Saints came out strong in the second half, with O'Neal hitting a free throw to make it 37-24, but the Pilots quickly responded with an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 45-24. Duni hit a jumper, and Hostetler drilled a three-pointer to spark a mini-run for the Saints. O'Neal added a jumper, and Roseman made two free throws, cutting the lead further to 45-33.
The teams traded baskets, but Bethel continued to pull away. Garwood and Roseman each hit three-pointers, pushing the score to 51-41. After a quick response from the Pilots, O'Neal added two more points, and Robles chipped in a basket to bring the Saints within 10 at 53-43. However, Bethel went on an 8-0 run to stretch the lead to 61-47. The Saints continued to fight, with Garwood scoring a layup and Roseman hitting three free throws, but Bethel refused to relinquish control. The Pilots finished strong, adding 10 more points to seal a 76-56 victory.
O'Neal led the way for the Saints with 14 points, while Duni and Hostetler each grabbed four rebounds to lead the defense. Despite their efforts, the Pilots' offensive firepower proved too much as they pulled away for the win.
The men’s basketball team will play Viterbo on Wednesday Nov. 20 starting at 7:30 p.m.
Women’s basketball
The women’s basketball team improved to 4-2 on the season after a 68-53 win over the Pilots.
Freshman forward Allie Caldwell set the tone early, scoring the first five points of the game. Sophomore forward Brooke Lindesmith added a three-pointer, and after two layups from the Pilots, the Saints led 8-4. Caldwell continued her strong play with two three-pointers, while senior forward Grace Adams contributed two free throws. Lindesmith and sophomore guard Lilly Toppen each added a basket, and the Saints finished the first quarter with a commanding 21-10 lead.
In the second quarter, the Saints’ dominance continued. Adams scored five quick points, Toppen added two and senior guard Kayliana Hammel chipped in four points. Caldwell also scored, pushing the Saints to a 34-12 lead in response to a Pilots’ layup. The Pilots managed five more points, but Adams answered with four of her own, extending the lead to 38-19. The Pilots hit a jump shot to close out the half, and the Saints led 38-21 at the break.
The Pilots came out aggressive in the third quarter, scoring the first two points, but the Saints quickly responded with a basket of their own. Holy Cross then went on a 9-0 run, led by strong defense and a variety of scoring from Hammel, Adams, Toppen, Caldwell and junior forward Elizabeth Edmonds, pushing the score to 58-32. The Pilots managed just one more jump shot before the end of the quarter, with the Saints leading 58-34.
The Saints kept the pressure on in the fourth, with Hammel hitting a three-pointer and senior guard Jordyn Smith adding a jump shot, extending the lead to 63-34. The Pilots mounted a brief 12-point run, making it 63-46, but the Saints answered quickly with a three-pointer from junior guard Audrey Tallent and a jump shot from Adams, bringing the score to 68-46. The Pilots added six more points late, but it wasn’t enough as the Saints secured a 68-53 victory.
Adams led the Saints with 19 points and 8 rebounds, while Caldwell added 15 points.
The Saints women’s basketball will also play Viterbo on Nov. 20, at 5:30 p.m.
