The two Holy Cross basketball teams faced Governors State on Saturday, the women’s team fell 65-56 while the men’s team lost 90-81.
Women’s game
Holy Cross started off the first quarter strong with a basket from senior guard Jordyn Smith, three points from senior forward Grace Adams and two from junior forward Elizabeth Edmonds to pull ahead 7-0 before Governors State went on a 19-0 run. Smith added four points but Governors State matched her and the quarter ended with the Saints down 23-11.
Governors State started the second quarter with four more before Adams and senior guard Kayliana Hammel each scored to make the score 27-15. Governors State extended their lead to 32-15, but Holy Cross quickly responded. Freshman forward Allie Caldwell sparked the comeback with five points, followed by contributions from Smith and Hammel with two points each, and freshman forward Kaiden Hanley contributing as well. The gap closed to seven but each team scored four points to close out the quarter with a 36-29 score.
After halftime, Governors State scored four points but baskets by Caldwell and Adams brought the score to 40-36. Governors State added seven points before sophomore forward Brooke Lindesmith hit a free throw. The teams went back and forth and Governors State went into the last quarter up by 11.
The teams exchanged baskets throughout the last quarter but the Saints were unable to make up the deficit and Governors State won 65-56.
Adams led on the court as she finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The team now prepares to face Olivet Nazarene on Feb. 26 at 6:30p.m.
Men’s Game
Holy Cross started the first half strong, with senior guard Justin Milch scoring two points and senior guard Justin O’Neal adding four to take an early 6-0 lead. However, Governors State answered with a dominant 19-point run, surging ahead 19-6. Senior guard Phil Robles II helped close the gap with six points, while O’Neal added five, narrowing the gap to 19-17. Governors State responded with nine more points, but Holy Cross kept fighting. Senior guard Nash Hostetler contributed eight points, and Milch added two more.
Governors State and Holy Cross continued to exchange baskets. Governors State added eight points to bring the score to 40-31 but a jump shot from Hostetler, three points from Robles and a jump shot from sophomore guard Joey Garwood brought the score to 40-38. Governors State added three points for themselves but sophomore forward Aris Duni ended the half with Governors State ahead 43-40.
Governors State started off the second half adding seven points before Hostetler added four points and Garwood added five points to bring the score to within one. The two teams continued to battle with Governors State finally managing a three point lead. Duni and O’Neal both added a free throw but four points from Governors State brought the score to 60-55. O’Neal and Garwood each made jump shots and freshman forward Davide Brembilla added a jump shot before Governors State scored nine points to stay ahead 69-61. Robles added six points to bring the score within two but four points from Governors State kept them ahead 73-67.
Governors State always seemed to stay ahead of Holy Cross. Garwood added two points to bring the score to 81-76 but Governors State scored five more. Each team remained competitive until the end but Governors State managed to stay ahead to get a 90-81 win.
Garwood and Robles both led the team with 18 points and O’Neal led with six rebounds.
