NOTRE DAME, Ind. --- The University of St. Francis women's basketball team could not carry its second-quarter momentum into the second half as Holy Cross College (Ind.) outscored the Fighting Saints 49-25 after the break to gain a 74-53 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory on Saturday afternoon at the Pfeil Center.

After falling behind 18-13 in the first quarter, USF (7-7, 3-3 CCAC) used a 10-0 run to close out the second frame in gaining a 28-25 lead at the break.  Baylei Johnson, Laurelei Thormeyer and Tykara Harrison each contributed three points during the rally.

Holy Cross, which shot just 23 percent (3-of-13) in its seven-point second quarter, regained its shooting touch in the third quarter when it opened the period on a 15-2 run as part of an overall 22-4 surge to go up 47-32.  The hosts hit 10 of their first 16 shots in the quarter (62.5 pct.) to take a 49-38 advantage into the final stanza.

The Saints would never get the deficit under ten points in the fourth quarter as Holy Cross (7-7, 4-2) continued its hot shooting with another 11-of-20 mark at the end.  For the game, HCC converted at a 50 percent clip (32-of-64), shooting at that mark or higher in three of the four quarters.

The Saints were held to 38.2 percent shooting (21-of-55) on the afternoon and were also hurt by a season-high 29 turnovers.  Holy Cross outscored USF 28-13 in points off turnovers.

Holy Cross' Grace Adams led all scorers and rebounders with 24 points and ten boards. 

Thormeyer, Harrison and Jorja Bolton all hit for double figures in scoring with 13, 12 and 10 points, respectively for the Saints.  Johnson and Mia Kennelly tied Adams for game-high rebounding honors with ten caroms. 

Notes: Johnson tied her season high with the ten boards … Kennelly authored her fourth game of ten-or-more rebounds this season … Harrison has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games, while Bolton has reached that mark five times in the last six outings and three contests in a row.  Thormeyer has done so in four of her last five affairs … The Saints host Governors State University on Wednesday at 5 pm in another CCAC tilt.

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