Over the weekend, both Holy Cross basketball teams faced off against Viterbo. The Holy Cross women’s basketball team took the 71-68 win, but the men’s team took the 65-61 loss.
Women’s team
Senior guard Jordyn Smith added the first point of the day for the Saints, but Viterbo responded by adding two layups to take the 4-1 lead. Senior forward Grace Adams added two free throws, but another layup from Viterbo kept it ahead at 6–4. Adams added another free throw, but Viterbo pulled ahead 8-5. The Saints then reclaimed the lead before a 5-0 run from Viterbo allowed it to retake the 15-11 lead.
Junior guard Audrey Tallent and Adams both added three points to pull the Saints ahead at 17-15 to start the second quarter. Viterbo tied up the game, but sophomore guard Lilly Toppen added two points to bring the score to 19-17. Viterbo again tied the game, but a free throw from Adams and two points from Smith pulled the Saints ahead at 22-19.
The Saints went on a 5-0 run, pulling ahead 27-23 before Viterbo added on a free throw. A quick response from Adams and a layup from Tallent kept the Saints up 31-24 heading into halftime.
The two teams exchanged points to start off the third quarter, but the Saints pulled ahead at 36-26. It was nothing but net for the Saints as they stayed ahead before Viterbo tied the score at 44, but the Saints bounced back and moved ahead at 48-44. An 8-0 run from Viterbo brought it ahead 52-48, but a layup from freshman forward Allie Caldwell, a free throw from Toppen and a jump shot from Hammel gave the Saints a close, 53-52 lead.
The fourth quarter looked no different as the two teams battled it out. Smith scored first with a layup, but a 5-0 run from Viterbo gave it the 57-55 lead before the Saints responded with a 7-0 run to regain the 62-57 lead. A three-point run from Viterbo proved no match for the Saints, as Smith added on a layup to bring the score to 64-60. The Saints added on three more points, but a 5-0 run from Viterbo tied up the score at 67. A layup from Smith made the score 69-67, but a free throw from Viterbo closed the score to 69-68. Then, after a shooting foul, Smith put in the final two points of the game, making the final score 71-68.
Smith led the team on offense, finishing with 18 points, and Adams led on the interior as she finished with a total of 11 rebounds. The Saints now look ahead to face Indiana University of South Bend on Jan. 22 at 5:30 p.m.
Men’s team
The Saints started off the first half strong, as sophomore Aris Duni put in a layup making the score 2-0. A 14-0 run from Viterbo then brought the score to 14-2 before sophomore guard Joey Garwood added on a jump shot to bring the score to 14-4. Viterbo quickly made the score 17-4, but Duni added two more points, bringing the score to 17-6. Three more points from Viterbo made the score 20-6, but two free throws from Garwood made the score 20-8. Viterbo took no time to respond, adding on three more points before freshman forward Davide Brembilla responded with a free throw and a layup, senior guard Nash Hostetler added a layup and a three-point shot and Garwood made a jump shot to close the score gap to 23-18.
With five minutes left in the first half, Viterbo added five more points before the Saints went on a 7-0 run, making the score 33-27. Viterbo returned with three more points of its own, but Duni took it from one coast to the other, adding on a layup to bring the score to 36-29. Ending the half, Viterbo added on the final two points to make the score 38-29.
After halftime, Viterbo added on the first four points of the second half, but the Saints responded with a 14-0 run of their own to pull ahead 43-42. Viterbo added on a 7-0 run, but the Saints responded to bring the score to 50-49. Viterbo scored the last two points, bringing the final score to 65-61.
Garwood led with a total of 23 points alongside freshman forward Davide Brembilla, who finished with 11 rebounds. The team now looks to face Indiana University of South Bend on Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
