MARIANNE KILLACKEY/Register Citizen Correspondent

The Torrington girls basketball team hung tough on Tuesday night at the Connie Donahue Gymnasium against Holy Cross, with the Crusaders taking a 67-62 Naugatuck Valley League win. The Lady Raiders used a 2-3 zone and solid efforts from Aly Otis, Caycee Williams and Mariah Cerruto to build a 31-26 halftime lead. In the second half, Holy Cross increased its defensive pressure in the third quarter and took the lead behind the torrid shooting of senior guard Briana Bradford (game-high 32 points, 6 3-pointers). The Crusaders led 50-44 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Torrington pulled within two at 54-52, then saw Holy Cross extend the lead to 62-54. The Raiders rallied to get within one point, 63-62, but the Crusaders used solid free throw shooting to pull away.
Torrington fell to 14-3 with the loss (14-2 NVL) while Holy Cross improved to 16-1 (16-0 NVL).
Williams had a monster game inside with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Otis added 16 points while Cerruto chipped in 13 points (2 3-pointers).
The Raiders stayed in the game and had chances to get closer and possibly win, but 24 turnovers hurt the home team.
To read more about Tuesday's game, click here.

BOX SCORE

Holy Cross 67, Torrington 62
At Torrington
Holy Cross 12-14-24-17 — 67
Torrington 15-16-13-18 — 62
HOLY CROSS (67): Amy Stafford 1-5-8; Nicole Bray 1-0-2; Angelica Ariola 3-4-10; Alana McIldorve 0-0-0; Briana Bradford 10-6-32; Danielle Dorsett 3-2-8; Kiera O’Donnell 2-0-4; Jackie Druan 1-0-3; TOTALS: 21-17-67.
TORRINGTON (62): Nicole Kozlak 3-0-7; Caroline Teti 1-0-2; Mika Howard 0-1-1; Aly Otis 5-6-16; Caycee Williams 8-7-23; Emily Eanniello 0-0-0; Mariah Cerruto 5-1-13; Megan Calabrese 0-0-0; TOTALS: 22-15-62.
3-pointers: HC — Bradford (6), Stafford, Druan. T — Cerruto (2), Kozlak.
Records: Holy Cross 16-1 (16-0); Torrington 14-3 (14-2).

- Kevn D. Roberts