Power-Cassidy and Berger combine for 23 points for Crusaders
Stapleton led the Skyhawks in rebounding for the seventh time in eight games this season (PHOTO BY Brian Foley) |
EASTON, Mass. (November 29, 2023) – College of the Holy Cross limited Stonehill College to a season-low shooting night in posting a 59-32 victory in a non-conference women's basketball matchup on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.
Senior Bronagh Power-Cassidy and junior Lindsey Berger combined for 23 of Holy Cross' 59 points total. Power-Cassidy scored 11 of her game-high 13 points in the first half as she finished 6-for-13 from the floor with six rebounds, while Berger netted ten points with six boards and two blocked shots. Sophomore Simone Foreman grabbed a game-high ten rebounds to go with eight points and two assists, while senior Cara McCormack chipped in eight points, five assists, four boards and two steals.
Senior Jada Thornton scored a team-high six points for Stonehill with five rebounds and three steals, while sophomore Paige Martin added six points, four boards and two steals. Junior Maureen Stapleton snared a team-high eight rebounds for the Skyhawks.
Stonehill held its fourth opponent over the last six games under 40-percent shooting, as Holy Cross finished at 39.7-percent after a 4-for-19 (21.1%) fourth quarter, but the Skyhawks were limited to a season-low 21.8% from the field, including 1-for-14 in the third quarter as the Crusaders stretched a 17-point halftime lead (33-16) to a 26-point (46-20) advantage after three quarters.
Thornton scored a team-high six points, leading the Skyhawks in scoring for the fourth time this season (PHOTO BY Brian Foley) |
Junior Sharn Hayward drained a three-pointer for Stonehill to open the scoring a minute into the contest, and a layup from Thornton had the Skyhawks up 5-2 2:13 in. Martin drained two free-throws for a 7-4 Stonehill edge a minute later, but Holy Cross followed with the final nine points of the quarter from four different players, sparked by a McCormack three-pointer, to take a six-point lead (13-7) into the second.
Holy Cross extended the run to 16-2 to grab a double-digit lead (20-9) with a steal and layup from sophomore Kaitlyn Flanagan two and a half minutes into the second. After a layup from Martin, the Crusaders followed with 13-2 run to open a 20-point lead (33-13) with another McCormack triple just before the half, before settling for a 17-point (33-16) cushion at the intermission.
Thornton scored the first basket of the second half nearly three-minutes in to pull Stonehill within 15 (33-18), but that would be the Skyhawks lone basket from the floor in the frame and Holy Cross would go on to open the 26-point margin (46-20) heading to the fourth and saw the game out from there.
Noteworthy
- Holy Cross was making its first appearance at Merkert Gym since 1980 and posted its first win ever in Easton (1-2) and now holds a 4-2 edge in the all-time series that dates back to the 1974-75 season.
- Stapleton, the NEC's rebounding leader, led Stonehill in rebounds for the seventh time in eight games.
- Thornton, while held under double figures for the second time in eight games, led the Skyhawks in scoring for the fourth time this season.
- After committing 14 turnovers in the first half, Stonehill turned it over just five in the second.
Up Next
Stonehill (0-8, 0-0 NEC) returns to action here at Merkert Gym next Wednesday, December 6, when it hosts the University of New Hampshire for its Team IMPACT Night at 6 p.m. Holy Cross (3-3, 0-0 Patriot) visits the University of Vermont on Sunday at noon.
Tickets for Stonehill basketball games can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets, with single game and season ticket packages available.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
