Jan. 11, 2012

Final Stats

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Holy Cross connected on seven consecutive three-point field goal attempts to quickly erase a 9-0 deficit to the Navy women's basketball team on its way to recording a 55-38 victory over the Midshipmen Wednesday night at Alumni Hall in Annapolis.

Navy (8-8, 1-1 Patriot League) started the game by sinking four of its first eight shots from the field in building leads of 9-0 and 11-2 less than four minutes into the contest. Navy still held a lead of 14-7 when Holy Cross ran off the next 12 points to take a 19-14 lead with just over 11 minutes left to play in the half. After a pair of free throws from Sam Himlin (Fr., Forty Fort, Pa.), the Crusaders scored the next 10 points to jump in front by the score of 29-16 with 7:21 remaining in the half. A jumper by Audrey Bauer (So., Lake Zurich, Ill.) was followed by Holy Cross scoring the ensuing eight points to take a 37-18 advantage with two minutes showing on the clock. The Crusaders would go into the break holding a 37-20 cushion over the Mids.

"We started off well, but then we missed some open shots and got demoralized," said Navy head coach Stefanie Pemper. "We went into one of those bad shooting spells and couldn't get out of it. Holy Cross is too good of a team for an opponent to come back from that."

Holy Cross (9-7, 1-1) began the game by missing its first four shots from the field, an effort that included misses on a pair of three-point attempts. The tide quickly turned as the Crusaders closed the half by sinking each of the last seven three-point field goal attempts they took in the frame and shooting 15-of-26 (57.7%) from the field in all over the remainder of the half. While the Holy Cross shooters found their rhythm, the Navy players lost theirs. After making half of their initial eight shots from the field, the Mids closed the first half by making just 3-of-20 field goal attempts.

"We didn't make plays smart plays on defense," said Pemper. "The looks we allowed Holy Cross to have were too good. We got down emotionally and didn't compete the way we typically do.

"Give credit to Holy Cross. They have a really good team, have good chemistry and are well coached."

Though Navy held Holy Cross to just 18 second-half points, the Mids also scored only 18 points themselves over the final 20 minutes of play.

Holy Cross would end the game shooting 39.3 percent from the field while limiting Navy to a 26.8-percent effort. The Mids also were only 2-of-16 from three-point range on the night.

In addition to the difference in shooting percentages, Holy Cross also dominated the glass. The Crusaders outrebounded the Mids, 46-33, and held an 18-10 advantage in second-chance points.

Bauer scored six late points to end the night with a Navy-best 11 points, while Jade Geif (So., Lakeville, Minn.) and Alix Membreno (So., Loxahatchee, Fla.) both added six points.

Amy Lepley's 14 points paced all players in the game.

Navy will be back in Alumni Hall Saturday when the Mids play host to Army. The game between the Mids and the Black Knights will start at Noon and be aired on national cable television by the CBS Sports Network.