Notre Dame, Ind. – The Holy Cross College women’s basketball team hosted Taylor University on Saturday afternoon inside McKenna Arena, battling through a fast-paced matchup but ultimately falling 90–71.
First Half
The Saints opened strong in front of the home crowd, outscoring Taylor 19–16 in the first quarter with confident shooting and efficient ball movement. Allie Caldwell led the early charge, scoring 10 points in the opening period while connecting on a three-pointer and going 3-for-4 from the free-throw line.
Sincere Coleman-Francis and Malea Steele added early baskets to help build momentum, while Brooke Lindesmith made her presence felt off the bench with a pair of rebounds and an and-one finish.
The second quarter saw a shift in pace as Taylor found their rhythm offensively, capitalizing on transition opportunities and strong free-throw shooting. The Saints battled to keep pace, with Kaiden Hanley providing a spark inside with five first-half rebounds and a bucket in the paint. Caldwell continued to lead offensively, finishing the half with 17 points as Holy Cross trailed 37–33 heading into the break.
Second Half
The Trojans came out firing in the third quarter, using a 34-point frame to create separation. Despite the offensive surge from Taylor, Holy Cross continued to fight with key contributions from Lindesmith and Hanley, who both worked hard on the glass and converted key second-chance points.
In the fourth, the Saints regained their shooting touch, putting up 26 points in the final frame—their best offensive quarter of the game. Coleman-Francis caught fire late, scoring 11 of her 14 points in the half, while Hanley added a three-pointer and several strong finishes inside. Caldwell stayed steady from the line, and Steele and Lindesmith each chipped in to close the scoring effort.
Despite the push, Taylor’s balanced scoring and 84% shooting from the free-throw line helped them maintain control down the stretch.
Final Stats
Caldwell: 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Coleman-Francis: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Hanley: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
Lindesmith: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
Steele: 6 points, 2 rebounds
As a team, Holy Cross shot 40.7% from the field, pulled down 32 rebounds, and recorded 15 assists.
The Saints move to 0–1 on the season and will look to bounce back next week when they return to McKenna Arena for another non-conference matchup.