Holy Cross gets first ever win against Titan women

For the second time this season, the IU South Bend Titans and Holy Cross Saints women's basketball teams battled it out into overtime. For the first time ever, the Saints won the game.

The Titan's all time record against the Holy Cross Saints dropped to 5-1 on January 21 when the Saints came to IUSB's home court and pulled off the win that had eluded them for three seasons, defeating the Titans 67-61.

Earlier this season, the Saints lost an overtime match 72-71 after a miraculous comeback from the Titans that left the Holy Cross fans in disbelief. This time, the story would be the other way around.

In the first half, the Titans started the game with solid offensive play, getting more scoring opportunities than the Saints. However, the Saints were able to keep pace with the Titans with their 3-point shooting, going 6-12 from beyond the arc in the half including a shocking 5-6 to start the period. Even with less shot opportunities, the Saints were able to get threes while the Titans mostly settled for twos, keeping the score close.

Then in the latter part of the half, the Saints ended with an 11-1 run that put them up 37-28 going into the locker room. It seemed at that point the Saints had control of the ball game.

But after halftime, the Titans answered back. After a few initial minutes of even play, the Titans burst out for an 11-0 run that put them right back in the game. Towards the end of the half, clutch shots and free throws by an array of Titan players had put them up 56-51 with less than five minutes to go in regulation.

With the score in their favor, the Titans chose to play conservative ball, focus on defense and run the clock out. But without any more points of their own, the Saints were able to get the five remaining points to tie the game up 56-56 as the final seconds ticked away.

The comparisons to the rivalry game the teams had played earlier in the season were eerie. The home team blows a late lead, the home crowd sits in shock, and a rejuvenated visiting team ties up the game and aims to take control of the game and the victory.

Titans vs. Saints. Overtime. Take two.

Except this is where the comparisons stopped. Unlike the match earlier in the season where both teams traded points and the Titans pulled off the win by one point, the Saints controlled the entire overtime. The five minute stretch was painful for Titan fans to watch, as the Saints scored six straight points and never looked back. The final score, 67-61, Saints.

Despite the loss, the Titan women put on a solid effort in the match. Three Titan players were able to score in the double digits; Kayla George with 14, Ashley Carson with 11 and Staci Funkhouser with 10. Emily Strilich was able to grab a team high of 12 total rebounds. Lizzie Stapke had a terrific game on defense, ending the game with two blocked shots, four steals and seven defensive rebounds.

The Titan women's next home game will be on Saturday, January 28 when the team takes on Saint Xavier University at noon.