SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Following a big first-half lead, IU South Bend secured their first win in CCAC play this season after holding off a late rally from their opponents, earning a 78-64 victory over cross-town rival Holy Cross on Wednesday night.

Maddie Gard led the Titans (5-1, 1-1 CCAC) with her second double-double of the season, finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds in the win. Sara Doi posted 15 points, including a game-high 13 in the first half, on 6-of-9 shooting, while Katie Gard came off the bench to collect 14 points. Emma Fisher tallied 12 points with three assists and a pair of steals on the night.

The Titans got out to a big lead in the early minutes of the first quarter, with Fisher's jumper at the 5:43 mark putting IUSB in front 10-2. Another bucket from Fisher later in the quarter, followed up by Maddy Schumacher's three-pointer put the Titans up 22-12 by the end of the opening period.

Managing a small double-digit lead throughout most of the second quarter, IU South Bend opened the gap with back-to-back threes to end the half, from Katie Gard and Doi. The Titans closed the first half on an 11-2 run over the final two minutes, building a 45-27 lead at the break.

Scoring the first six points of the third quarter, the Titans continued to pull away, taking a 24-point lead on Fisher's layup at the 8:22 mark. Schumacher briefly gave IUSB their largest lead of the game with a layup to take a 67-42 lead with 0:59 remaining in the quarter, but Holy Cross (1-2, 0-1 CCAC) came back with a score on the next possession to start closing the gap.

The Saints would hold IU South Bend to just 11 fourth-quarter points, matching their lowest point total in a single period this season. The visitors would go on an 11-0 run midway through the fourth, cutting the lead down to 71-60 with 4:09 to play. A corner three from Maddie Gard with 2:20 to play would turn the momentum however, as the Saints were unable to pull back within single-digits down the stretch.

The Titans will now prepare for another three-game road swing, beginning this Friday and Saturday at the Huntington (Ind.) Classic. IUSB will take on St. Francis (Ind.) in a non-conference battle on Friday, November 12, followed by a matchup with hosts Huntington on Saturday, November 13. IUSB returns to the Student Activities Center when they host Lincoln for a CCAC matchup on Saturday, November 20.