Both Holy Cross basketball teams were back in action over the weekend, each facing off against the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees. The women’s team won 78-37 while the men’s team took a 80-75 win after going into overtime
Women’s team
St. Ambrose scored the first basket of the game but two points each from senior forward Grace Adams and senior guard Kayliana Hammel put the Saints ahead. St. Ambrose tied up the score but after committing a shooting foul, junior guard Audrey Tallent made both of her free throws. The Saints stayed ahead throughout the remainder of the quarter finishing it up 17-9.
Holding the eight point lead, Hammel started off the second quarter strong for the Saints, adding three points to their lead. Adams put in two more points but St. Ambrose responded with three points bringing the score to 22-14. The two teams went back and forth a bit but the Saint’s came out on top to end the quarter 32-18.
The Saints carried their momentum into the second half with sophomore guard Jordyn Smith making four jump shots. With others scoring as well, she brought the score to 48-18. The Saints fouled St. Ambrose, giving them an opportunity to score again. As the two teams went back and forth nearing the end of the quarter, the Saints remained up 54-28.
St. Ambrose started off the fourth quarter with a 4-0 run but the Saints responded with a six point run of their own. A three point shot from St. Ambrose did not bother Holy Cross as Adams dropped a jump shot bringing the score to 62-35. The Saints outscored their opponents 15-2 to end the game.
Adams led the team with 19 points. The Saints will now prepare to play Indiana Northwest on Jan. 29th at 6 p.m.
Men’s team
Neither team scored in the first minute of the game before freshman forward Davide Brembilla got the first basket. A quick response from St. Ambrose tied up the score but a jump shot from senior guard Nash Hostetler brought the Saints ahead again. The two teams exchanged three pointers to end the game.
An 8-0 run from St. Ambrose allowed them to pull ahead 13-7 but the Saints continued to hang with them with shots from guards Joey Garwood, Justin O’Neal, AJ Rosemen and Phil Robles II pulling the Saints back ahead. It was a continued battle for the lead throughout the rest of the half but the Saints went to halftime up by four.
To start the second half, St. Ambrose went on a 13-4 but a three point shot from Hostetler kept the score within two. Both teams seemed to control the game at times and the game went to overtime, tied at 67.
A shooting foul against St. Ambrose allowed Garwood to hit a free throw but four points from Saint Ambrose gave them the 71-68 lead. Four points from O’Neal helped the Saint’s regain the lead. Again, it was back and forth ,but the Saints pulled away enough to win by five points.
O’Neal and Garwood lead the team with 23 and 22 points, respectively. Their next game is also against Indiana Northwest on Jan. 29th, at 8p.m.
