The Holy Cross College Saints women’s basketball team earned an exciting 76–71 win over Viterbo University on Friday afternoon at McKenna Arena, improving to 7–6 overall and 5–2 in conference play.
The contest featured 8 ties and 9 lead changes, with both teams trading momentum throughout the first half. Holy Cross and Viterbo were deadlocked at 18–18 after the opening quarter, and the Saints went into halftime trailing just 40–37 after a strong second quarter from the V-Hawks.
Holy Cross took control coming out of the break, using a dominant third quarter to swing the game in their favor. The Saints outscored Viterbo 23–14 in the period, shooting efficiently and building their largest lead of the game at 12 points. The defensive effort was key, as Holy Cross forced turnovers and limited Viterbo’s scoring opportunities.
Viterbo made a push in the fourth quarter, cutting into the deficit and keeping the game within reach down the stretch. However, Holy Cross remained composed, knocking down timely shots and free throws to seal the five-point victory.
Allie Caldwell led the Saints with 23 points, while Sincere Coleman-Francis added 17 points and 8 rebounds. Kaiden Hanley contributed 13 points and a game-high 9 assists, directing the offense and setting up key baskets. Lilly Toppen chipped in 9 points, and the Saints’ balanced attack helped overcome a strong shooting performance from Viterbo.
Holy Cross shot 42.6% from the field and an impressive 43.8% from three-point range, while forcing 13 turnovers on the defensive end. The Saints also edged Viterbo in key moments, scoring the final basket of the game and closing out the win in front of the home crowd.
The Saints will look to build on the momentum at their next home match up on Saturday December 20th against East-West! Tipoff is at 1PM!