WORCESTER, Mass. – The Hofstra University women's basketball team pushed Holy Cross to the limit, but eventually fell to the Crusaders, 72-66, in overtime at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex on Wednesday evening. Hofstra drops to 3-6 overall while Holy Cross improves to 6-2 on the season.
 
Three players combined for 86 percent of Hofstra's scoring, led by junior Ana Hernandez Gil who was hot from deep all night long, knocking down an incredible eight three-pointers on 42 percent shooting for a career-high 24 points. Her final long-ball of the night was clutch, knotting the score at 62 points each with 16 seconds left in regulation to send the Pride and Crusaders into overtime.  
 
Finishing behind Hernandez Gil was senior Boogie Brozoski, who net 22 points on 39 percent shooting from the field, matching her season-high that she registered against Stetson two games ago. In addition, Brozoski led the Pride on the boards with seven. Rounding out the double digit scorers was senior Sica Cuzic, who chipped in with 11 points and finished tied for first on the team in assists with four, along with with junior E'Lexus Davis.
 
As a team, Hofstra finished shooting 39 percent from the floor, just behind Holy Cross' 41 percent, however the Crusaders capitalized on the boards, outrebounding the Pride, 56-32. Hofstra had the edge on turnovers, 19-14, scoring 18 points off Holy Cross miscues. Holy Cross' Lauren Manis led all players with a game-high 26 points and 18 rebounds.
 
After Holy Cross jumped out to a 24-17 lead to open up the contest, Hofstra responded with a 6-0 run to begin the second quarter to cut the Crusader lead to just one point. Holy Cross saw a lead as many as six before halftime, but Brozoski rolled in a layup with three seconds on the clock to keep the Crusaders at bay. With 4:09 remaining in the third quarter, Brozoski found Cuzic for a two-point basket to trail by only two, but the Crusaders found the groove late in the frame as the Pride trailed by seven headed into the fourth period.
 
Holy Cross reached its largest lead of the game twice in the fourth quarter, as the Pride trailed by 10 first at the 5:12 mark and again with 3:46 to go. A Cuzic three-pointer ignited an 11-1 Hofstra run to end the fourth quarter, with Cuzic and Hernandez Gil combining for all 11 of those points. Hernandez Gil drained her seventh three-pointer of the contest with 2:17 left in regulation, before Cuzic added a layup and Hernandez Gil added the game-tying three-pointer (62-62) with 16 seconds in regulation.
 
The Crusaders took command in the extra frame, outscoring the Pride, 10-4 in the final five minutes. Hofstra saw its only field goal from junior Marianne Kalin, while three Crusaders teamed up for all 10 points to secure the victory.
 
Hofstra returns to action on Sunday, December 9 for a non-conference game against the UMBC Retrievers. Tip off from the UMBC Event Center is slated for 1:00 pm.
 
 
NOTES:
-Ana Hernandez Gil drained a career-high eight three-pointers for a career-high 24 points, also the first time in her career she reached 20+ points.
-Boogie Brozoski matched her season-high of 22 points
-Hofstra suffered on the stripe, making three of just 11 free throws while Holy Cross was 13-of-16 from the line