After both teams came off of a win last week, the Holy Cross basketball squads faced off against Olivet Nazarene but both lost. The women’s team fell 90-85 and the men’s team lost 83-73.
Women’s game
Olivet Nazarene was quick to start the first quarter, putting up three points, but a jump shot from sophomore forward Brooke Lindesmith, three points from freshman forward Allie Caldwell and a layup from senior forward Grace Adams brought the Saints back ahead 7-3. Olivet Nazarene scored two more points, but a quick response came from the Saints as senior guard Jordyn Smith put in two points and sophomore guard Lilly Toppen added another two to make the score 11-5. A 7-0 run from Olivet Nazarene then moved it ahead 12-11, but a layup from senior guard Kayliana Hammel regained the 13-12 lead for Holy Cross. Olivet Nazarene would claim a 16-13 lead, but 4 points from Smith ended the first quarter with the Saints ahead 17-16.
Hammel started the second quarter with two points to make the score 19-16 before Olivet Nazarene poured in 12 points to regain the 28-19 lead. Five points from freshman forward Kaiden Hanley and four in response from Olivet Nazarene brought the score to 32-24, but 7 points from Holy Cross made the score 32-31. Three points from Olivet Nazarene made the score 35-31, but the Saints answered and kept the score within one. Olivet Nazarene added two points, but Adams responded with five to regain the 39-37 lead. Olivet Nazarene went on a 5-0 run, but Toppen scored and ended the first half with the Saints trailing 42-41.
Olivet Nazarene started the third quarter with a free throw, but six points from Holy Cross pulled the Saints ahead 47-43. A few minutes later, five points from Olivet-Nazarene gave it the 50-49 lead, but two each from Smith and Adams helped the Saints regain the 53-50 advantage. Four points from Olivet Nazarene put it back in front 54-53, but layups from Smith and Lindesmith restored the 57-54 lead for Holy Cross. The two teams continued to battle throughout the remainder of the quarter, but a layup from Smith ended the quarter with the Saints ahead 72-66.
Seven points from Olivet Nazarene started the fourth quarter, but five from the Saints kept them ahead 77-73. Olivet Nazarene added 3 points, but Caldwell responded by putting in two, bringing the score to 79-76. Two points from Olivet-Nazarene closed the score within one, but a three-point shot from Lindesmith made the score 82-78. Olivet Nazarene would piece together eight points to pull ahead 86-82, but three points from Holy Cross tightened the score to 86-85. Four points from Olivet Nazarene finished the game as it took the 90-85 win.
Adams led Holy Cross on the court with 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Saints will play St. Xavier on Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.
Men’s game
Olivet Nazarene started the first half going up 8-0 before senior guard Phil Robles II put in five points, sophomore guard Joey Garwood added four points and freshman forward Davide Brembilla tacked on two points to make the score 11-8. Six points from Olivet-Nazarene gave it the 14-11 lead, but five combined points from Garwood and senior guard Justin O’Neal brought the Saints a 16-14 lead. Olivet Nazarene went on a 12-0 run, but six points from the Saints kept the score close at 26-22. Olivet Nazarene added on four more points, but a free throw from sophomore forward Aris Duni and a free throw from senior guard Nash Hostetler brought the score to 30-24. Olivet Nazarene added another six points before freshman guard Callaghan Weatherspoon combined with O’Neal, Hostetler and Brembilla to make the score 36-34. Olivet Nazarene then posted four points, but two from Brembilla ended the half with the Saints trailing 40-36.
After halftime, Hostetler added three points, while Garwood and Brembilla each contributed two to make the score 43-40, but Olivet Nazarene responded by adding four points to pull ahead 44-43. Hostetler delivered two more, but Olivet Nazarene stormed back with 15 to stay ahead 59-45. Holy Cross would counter with eight points, but 3 from Olivet-Nazarene made the score 62-53. Garwood added two points, but an 8-0 run from Olivet Nazarene brought the score to 70-55. Eight points from the Saints made the score 70-62, but five more points from Olivet Nazarene widened it 75-62. Holy Cross put in eight more points, but a matching eight from Olivet Nazarene made the score 83-71. While Brembilla put in the final two points, Olivet Nazarene walked away with the 83-73 win.
Hostetler led the Saints in scoring, finishing with 17 points, and Brembilla paced the team with 7 rebounds. The team now prepares to face St. Xavier on Feb. 15, starting at 4 p.m.
