Holy Cross College cruised to a 2-0 start to the season and was looking to extend its winning streak in a matchup with Bethel University. For Bethel, they were looking for a win to build momentum in its first game of the season and to hand Holy Cross its first loss.
Early in the game, the matchup was very back and forth. Midway through the first half, the teams were deadlocked, with neither side able to jump out to an early lead. After that, Bethel began to pull away, but the Saints kept themselves in the game. Heading into the break, Holy Cross faced a 35-28 deficit.
In the second period, the Saints battled, cutting the scoring margin to six with under 10 minutes left. After this, however, it would be over five minutes until their next made was shot. The scoring drought gave Bethel firm control of the match, and they constructed a lead that they would not yield. As the final buzzer sounded, the Pilots claimed a 74-65 victory.
Despite the outcome, the Saints excelled in certain parts of the game. Holy Cross was strong inside the paint. Forty of the team’s 65 points came in the region. Furthermore, they won the rebounding battle, hauling in 43 boards. The 12 offensive rebounds led to 16 second-chance points for the Saints.
Not everything went in favor of Holy Cross. From beyond the arc, the Saints had cold stretches, shooting just 3-for-13 (23.1%) overall. They were also heavily outmatched at the charity stripe. Bethel had 25 free throws throughout the match, compared to just 10 for Holy Cross. The Saints also lost the turnover battle, with 12 over the course of the match.
Three players from Holy Cross reached the double-digit scoring mark. Senior guard AJ Roseman led the team with 19 points. He was also one of the most effective playmakers in the game, with a team-high four assists. Right behind him were junior forward Jayden Sanders and freshman guard Donovan Waleskowski with 15 points apiece. Sanders was also the team leader for rebounds, recording eight. Waleskowski has been one of the most effective scorers for Holy Cross. He is averaging 18.7 points per game, the most for the team. He has also been extremely efficient shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc.
The Saints will have the opportunity to get back in the win column with two games over the weekend. On Friday, they will travel to Gary, Indiana, to face off against Indiana University Columbus. Immediately after is a matchup with St. Mary-Woods as a part of the IUNW Classic.
IU Columbus is currently .500 on the season through four games. Coming off an overtime thriller where they lost by just two points, they will be looking to snap their two-game losing streak as they host Holy Cross on Friday, Nov. 7, with a 6 p.m. tipoff. In order for the Saints to win, one of the biggest keys to victory will be taking care of the ball. Teams facing IU Columbus have averaged 21 turnovers per game and have allowed an average of 23 points off turnovers. If Holy Cross can limit its number of turnovers, it will also limit its opponents' scoring.
Following Friday’s matchup, the Saints will remain in Gary, Indiana, for a matchup with St. Mary-Woods. After opening the season with two games against Judson University, St. Mary-Woods is undefeated. The Pomeroys have seen a committee-focused scoring effort with three separate players tied for the highest points per game average. The matchup between the Pomeroys and the Saints will tip off Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.
