AMHERST – The UMass women's basketball team's two-game winning streak was snapped after a 75-70 loss to Holy Cross on Wednesday night at the Mullins Center.

The Minutewomen led 52-46 after three quarters of play, but the Crusaders' ability to sink shots from beyond the arc proved to be the difference in the final frame. 

Holy Cross went 5-for-8 from 3-point land in the last 10 minutes, including back-to-back 3s to even the score 52-52 early in the fourth, to hand the Minutewomen their third loss of the campaign.

“They space the floor well, they exposed some ball-screen coverages, we mixed some things up and again I thought it was less about scheme and more about the intensity to rotate,” UMass head coach Mike Leflar said. "I thought at times we were just slower than the ball moved and that can't be.”

UMass previously beat Monmouth and Central Connecticut State heading into Wednesday's affair.

Holy Cross concluded the night shooting 44 percent from 3, while the Minutewomen didn't hit a single 3-pointer in seven attempts.

“We got to knock one of them down,” LeFlar said. “Zero-for-seven is certainly not good enough and our game plan is always to get the ball inside early and then play a little bit inside-out, but there needs to be balanced scoring.”

The Crusaders used its quick-strike scoring to go on a 6-0 run late in the game to lead 69-63. UMass went nearly three minutes without a basket during Holy Cross' run, before Aleah Sorrentino converted on a free throw attempt to make it a five point game.

However, Holy Cross was sharp from the charity stripe, as it made six of its final eight attempts, forcing the Minutewomen into a hole they couldn't dig themselves out of.

"Obviously, myself, our staff, our team, disappointed with the result for sure," LeFlar said. "I was really excited coming into this game, the way we've improved in the last four games. I was excited because it was going to be a test for us. We talked about our mentality with our team before and after our last game and I thought we took really good strides. 

“I was excited because Holy Cross has won the Patriot League the last two years," he continued. "They lost some pieces, but they also have a lot back. I knew it would be a tight one, but in those close moments where plays need to be made that are gonna affect the outcome of the game, I was excited to see us step up and get it done. We just didn't quite make enough of those plays tonight."

Megan Olbrys and Stefanie Kulesza led UMass in points with 14, while Allie Palmieri (12 points) and Sorrentino (11) also cracked double digits.

Kulesza grabbed 10 rebounds as well for the senior’s first double-double of the season.

Meg Cahalan paced the Crusaders with 23 points, including 4-for-8 from 3-point distance.

The Minutewomen will be back in action on Saturday, when they host Army. Tip-off at the Mullins Center is set for 1 p.m.