BALTIMORE –
Caramina Tañedo's corner 3-pointer 2:16 into the fourth quarter capped a 13-3 Loyola University Maryland run and cut College of the Holy Cross's lead to 42-41, but the Crusaders scored the next five points to build enough of a cushion for an eventual 58-49 win in Reitz Arena.
Loyola trailed 39-28 after a Cara McCormack three at 1:31 left in the third quarter, but
Laryn Edwards drove the left side of the lane and scored an and-one, making the free throw to spark the rally.
Janelle Allen would go 1 of 2 at the free-throw line with 49 seconds on the clock, but a pull-up jumper from the left short corner by
Keegan Douglas with just over 20 ticks left pulled the Greyhoudns within seven entering the fourth.
Emily McAteer made a bucket 19 seconds into the frame, and
Lex Therien conveted the second of two at the line less than a minute later, making it a four-point Crusaders lead. Douglas then came away with a steal and was fouled going to the basket, making both shots to trim the lead to 40-38.
Addisyn Cross, however, made two free throws with an even 8:00 on the clock, and Holy Cross was back up by four.
After Cross's shots, Loyola moved the ball up the court quickly, and an entry pass was thrown to
Charia Roberts on the low block, but she quickly kicked it to an open Tañedo in the right corner for her second 3-pointer of the night, making it 42-41 with 7:44 left in regulation.
Tañedo then had a steal on the defensive end to give Loyola a chance to take the lead, but the jumper missed for the Greyhounds. Neither Loyola, nor Holy Cross would score until Allen made the first of two at the line at 5:52, and the next frield goal was not until Allen converted with 4:29 on the clock.
Kelly Petro then made two free throws with 3:44 left before Loyola brok a scoreless streak of 4:30 with a pull-up 3-pointer from the top of the perimeter by
Taleah Dixon at 3:14.
Dixon's conversion at the end of the shot clock got Loyola within three, 47-44, but it was as close as the Greyhounds would get the rest of the way.
Dixon finished with 10 points, while Therien had nine to go with 11 rebounds.
Ten of the 11 Greyhounds who saw minutes scored in the game with Edwards and Tañedo each contributing six.
Loyola will continue Patriot League action on Saturday, February 12, with a 2 o'clock game at Colgate University.
