The number 4 ranked Saint Xavier University women’s basketball team extended their winning streak to nine games Wednesday January 28th against Holy Cross College.
The Cougars handily defeated fellow CCAC team in a 109-51 Shannon Center victory. Saint Xavier’s record is now 20 and 2 overall, and 11 and 0 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC).
With eyes on the postseason the lady Cougars came out with great energy against an undermanned Lady Saints team.
Great defense lead to even better offense as the lady cougars forced 32 turnovers and scored 42 points off those turnovers.
The lady cougars seemed focused and ready to take care of business early and often as Senior forward Morgan Stuut (13 points) sank a 3 to start off the scoring for the cougars and the barrage continued from there as all 12 of the lady cougars that played scored in the game with 6 scoring in double figures.
The team shot 50% from the field and 45% from the arc while holding their opponents to 27% and 11% respectively
Freshman Center Brittany Collins really shined on both offense and down low on defense with 14 points and 4 blocks.
The 4 blocks were a career high for Collins as Holy Cross just could not keep up with Saint Xavier and their pressure. Brittany Collins (14 points), Kara Krolicki (14 points), and Susie Broski (13 points) were all on point as well combining for 41 points on 17-23 from the field.
With the Cougars completely dominating the game and actually found themselves up by 44 points by the middle of the second half, a great sign that this team on focused on the task at hand and not looking ahead to the postseason quite yet.
When asked what he is going to do to keep the team prepared for the rest of the season, Coach Hallberg explained, “There is nothing new we are going to put in this time of year. We just have to come out prepared to play.”
Hallberg knows this veteran laden team knows what it needs to do to be successful they just have to go out and execute the game plan that he puts in front of them.
I think that its safe to say that after a 101-51 win, that the lady cougars are listening.
Kelly Kramer
Sports Editor