Both Holy Cross basketball teams were in action on Wednesday as they faced the St. Francis Fighting Saints. Both teams lost, as the women’s team fell 69-63 and the men’s team came up short by a 76-56 score.
Women’s game
It was back and forth early between Holy Cross and St. Francis, but freshman forward Allie Caldwell pulled the Saints ahead 9-6 with a three-pointer and a jump shot. Four points from the Fighting Saints gave them the 10-9 lead, but a three from senior guard Kayliana Hammel brought the Saints ahead 12-10. St. Francis tied the score up, but a jump shot from senior forward Grace Adams and another jumper from senior guard Jordyn Smith kept the Saints ahead 16-12. A 7-0 run from St. Francis put its ahead 19-16 at the end of the first quarter.
An 8-0 run from St. Francis started the second quarter before five points from Holy Cross made the score 27-21. The Fighting Saints would keep Holy Cross at arm's length before going on another 8-0 run, bringing the score to 42-27 before Adams found the basket and put in two points. St. Francis added three more points, but sophomore guard Lilly Toppen responded with three points to make the score 45-32 at halftime.
It was an offensive battle in the third quarter. Two three-point shots from Caldwell and two jump shots from junior guard Audrey Tallent closed the score to 50-44 before St. Francis added two points to make the score 52-44. Hammel countered with a jump shot, but two points from St. Francis kept it ahead by eight. Holy Cross would go into the final quarter down 54-49.
Smith dunked the ball to start the fourth quarter, making the score 54-51, but St. Francis pushed back with two points to lead 56-51. Five points from Holy Cross tied the score, but four points from St. Francis kept it ahead 60-56. Adams then put in two, but St. Francis followed with six points to make the score 66-58. In the final seconds, sophomore forward Brooke Lindesmith added a jumpshot and Adams made a three-point shot, but three more points from St. Francis gave the Fighting Saints the 69-63 victory.
Adams led Holy Cross on multiple fronts, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds. The team now prepares to face Judson on Feb. 8, starting at 1 p.m.
Men’s game
St. Francis and Holy Cross went back and forth in the first few minutes of the half, but a 10-0 run from St. Francis put it ahead 12-4. Sophomore guard Joey Garwood answered with a three-point shot, but a quick five points from the Fighting Saints made the score 17-7. A jump shot from senior guard Phil Robles II, a layup and a jump shot from Garwood and a free throw from senior guard Justin O’Neal closed the margin to 17-14, but St. Francis responded with four points to stay ahead 21-14.
Three points from senior guard Nash Hostetler again tightened the score to 21-17, but the Fighting Saints responded with three points, making the score 24-17. Hostetler added two but St. Francis responded, going on a 7-0 run bringing the score to 31-19. Robles then made a jump shot before St. Francis tallied four points, making the score 35-21. Garwood put in a jump shot, but St. Francis added a layup, bringing the score to 37-23. Robles notched another two points before St. Francis drilled a three-point buzzer-beater to stay ahead 40-25 at the end of one half.
After halftime, St. Francis went on a 9-0 run, widening the score to 49-25 before freshman forward Davide Brembilla added two points to make the score 49-27. St. Francis tallied another two points, but Garwood answered with four to make the score 51-31. Another 7-0 run by St. Francis gave it the 58-31 lead, and the Fighting Saints would wrap up the third quarter in a 65-42 lead.
Four points from St. Francis were met by two points from Hostetler to start the fourth, making the score 69-44. St. Francis added two more points, but freshman guard Callaghan Weatherspoon contributed three points to make the score 71-47. Eventually, St. Francis closed out a 76-56 win.
Garwood led the Saints on offense, finishing with 18 points, while Brembilla paced the team with 10 rebounds. Holy Cross will play Judson on Feb. 8, starting at 3 p.m.
