The Holy Cross girls’ basketball team experienced defeat in the season opener this year after an undefeated run in 2021-22.
The Crusaders have had to play from behind, and they did so again on Tuesday afternoon in their return trip to the Mohegan Sun Arena, the site of the program’s second state championship.
Holy Cross was down a point at halftime to Rhode Island’s St. Mary Academy – Bay View during the inaugural Jiggs Cecchini Holiday Basketball Tournament. The Crusader offense came to life in a big way in the second half in a 71-63 victory over the Bengals. Holy Cross improved to 3-1.
The Crusaders scored 45 second half points and were led by a game-high 35 from Mya Zaccagnini. Zaccagnini also had six steals and four assists. At one point, Zaccagnini pulled a Larry Bird circa the 1986 NBA Finals when she dribbled the ball to the corner in front of the opponent’s bench before burying a 3-pointer.
Shania Howard had a big afternoon with 18 points and five steals. If future opponents aren’t careful with their passes, Howard will turn them into layups at the other end, as she did against the Bengals.
Isabella Lombardo yanked down a team-high 10 rebounds while Corinne Lomax added 10 points and six rebounds. Isabella Oliver compiled five steals.
Holy Cross trailed by five points, 25-20, with 2:08 left in the second quarter. The deficit was three points, 38-35, in the third quarter when Howard connected on a 3-pointer to tie the game at the 3:21 mark. The Crusaders outscored the Bengals, 33-25, the rest of the way.
Holy Cross faces fellow 3-1 squad Woodland on Friday at 6 p.m. in Beacon Falls.
Photo credit: Holy Cross girls basketball Twitter account.
