SAU cannot counter Holy Cross runs

After nearly making the second Holy Cross spree, the Fighting Bees struggled but still hung on in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest at Lee Lohman Arena.

However, the Saints’ third run – a 15-5 lead in the final 4 1/2 minutes – ended the contest and gave Holy Cross the 85-67 victory between teams seeking their first league wins to start the season.

“We made mistakes here and there, but we want to build our confidence to play in games like these and put up a full four quarters,” SAU second-year coach Zac Exume said.

The Saints (5-4, 1-2 CCAC) left the first quarter tied at 15 and scored the first 10 points of the second frame. Holy Cross led 29-18 at one point in the stanza before SAU cut the deficit to 32-29 at halftime.

A good start to the third quarter allowed the Bees to tie the score at 45 on a jumper by Caitlyn Thole with 4:20 left. Then the Saints quickly scored the next 14 points, which gave them a lead of 59:46 after three points.

SAU remained resilient and fought back within 70-62 on a basket by Payton Calouette with 4:50 left.

Holy Cross then ended the contest with its final upset.

Not only did the Bees (2-6, 0-3 CCAC) give up big runs, but they also couldn’t find a way to stop the Saints’ biggest offensive threats. Senior Grace Adams finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds and freshman Allie Caldwell added 26 points. Together, they made 17 of 31 field goals and 16 of 17 free throws — 11 of 12 from Adams.

“We knew what they could do,” Exume said of the explosive scorers. “We knew getting to the free throw line was an important part of her game, and she did that. Allie can compete with the best if you leave her open.

“It’s the attention to detail that we need to focus on.”

Reserve player La’Bria Austin, who scored 14 points off the bench.

Exume also pointed out that Holy Cross’s 46-33 rebounding advantage was a major factor in the outcome and the leading factor in those runs.

“We were playing really well and doing the job and then they got the offensive rebound and then we had to do it again,” he said. “That put us in a tricky situation and a tough jam.”

The Saints converted 15 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points and also scored 34 points in the game.

SAU finished with three players in double figures, accounting for 48 of SAU’s 67 points. Calouette, a junior, led the way with 19, senior Abby Wolter added 16 (in addition to her team-high 7 rebounds) and Thole, a junior, scored 13.