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Women’s Basketball Team Advances to Sweet 16 for First Time Since 2012

Members of women's basketball team celebrate after securing a victory


The HFU women's basketball team advanced to the NCAA Division II East Region Final (Sweet 16) for the fourth time in program history, and the first time since 2012, after defeating second-seeded Daemen 68-55 at Bentley University on Saturday evening.

Holy Family will attempt to become the first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) women's basketball team to win the East Regional and qualify for the Elite Eight on Monday at 7 p.m. when it takes on the top-seeded host, Bentley, in the final. 

Individual Highlights

  • Taylor Hinkle matched Lauren Palangio with a game-high seven rebounds and joined Kaelah Carter and Kara Meredith in finishing with a team-high 12 points
    • The junior now ranks second in the program's single-season history with 318 rebounds
  • Carter matched Lola Ibarrondo with a team-high three assists and made 4-of-8 3-pointers, while Meredith shot 5-of-7 from the field
  • Skyler Searfoss made it four Tigers in double-figures as she contributed 11 points, including making 7-of-8 free throws

How it Happened

  • Daemen built a 10-point lead, 7-17, in the final minute of the first, but Searfoss closed out the scoring in the quarter before Holy Family began the second on a 13-2 surge, after which HFU would not trail again
  • Five different Tigers scored in the stretch, which began with an Amy Ngo 3-pointer and ended with a Palangio layup for a 22-19 advantage with 5:47 remaining in the half
  • The Wildcats tied it up twice, including at 28-28 with 1:58 on the clock, but two Searfoss foul shots 30 seconds later put HFU on top for good before another Palangio basket in the final seconds established a 34-31 cushion at the break
  • Daemen got as close as three in the second half, 37-40 with 5:45 to play in the third period, but the Tigers immediately countered with six unanswered highlighted by a Meredith 3-pointer to help build a 48-41 lead entering the fourth
  • Daemen made it a two-possession scoreline twice in the fourth quarter, including at 61-55 with an even three minutes to play, but the Wildcats would not score again as HFU poured in the final seven points