WORCESTER, Mass. – Led by five players in double figures, the Holy Cross women's basketball team knocked off Boston College, 80-71, on Wednesday, Nov. 13 for the Crusaders' first win over a Power 5 school since 2014.

Senior center Megan Swords impressed in Holy Cross' home opener with a career-high 21 points and 14 rebounds – including seven offensive rebounds. Junior guard Jenay Faulkner also had a career-high in points, with 16, to go with four assists, two blocks and five rebounds to guide the Crusaders (1-1).

Sophomore guard Avery LaBarbera chipped in 16 points, while senior forward Lauren Manis (11 points) and senior guard Madalyn Smith (10 points) were also in double figures. Sophomore forward Oluchi Ezemma pulled down 10 boards, including six offensive rebounds.

Boston College (2-1) had four players in double-digit points: Milan Bolden-Morris (17), Makayla Dickens (15), Cameron Swartz (14) and Georgia Pineau (12).

Holy Cross dominated on the boards, outrebounding the Eagles 51-42 with 20 offensive rebounds. After making their first basket of the game off a layup from Faulkner, the Crusaders did not trail at any point in the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross pushed its lead to 6-0 early after Faulkner's bucket, a pair of free throws by Smith and a layup from Manis. That lead grew to 9-1 with 4:58 to go in the first quarter after Smith converted on an and-one.
• The Eagles made their first field goal of the game at the 3:34 mark to cut within 9-3, but Swords answered on the other end with a layup to extend the Crusaders' lead back to eight points. Boston College made it a six-point game with 1:13 left, 14-8, after a 3-pointer, but Faulkner had a layup and a free throw to give Holy Cross a 17-8 lead after one quarter.
• After Boston College had a pair of baskets to cut the Crusaders' lead to five, Holy Cross responded with a 5-0 run off five unanswered points by Manis. The Eagles were within four points with 4:46 remaining, 26-22, and despite the Crusaders pushing their lead back to nine with 2:06 remaining, Boston College had five points in the final minute to sit within four, 33-29, at the half.
• Holy Cross came out quick in the second half, building an 11-point lead within the first two-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter after LaBarbera drained a 3-pointer. That lead dwindled to five points by the 4:57 mark, prompting a timeout by the Crusaders.
• Out of the timeout, LaBarbera drew a foul; she made the first of two free throws but missed the second. Manis grabbed the rebound and kicked the ball out to LaBarbera, who immediately drained the three, giving Holy Cross a 50-43 lead. That sparked an eventual 17-3 run for the Crusaders, who led by 19, 63-44, with 1:19 to go in the third.
• Holy Cross maintained a double-digit advantage for most of the fourth quarter until Bolden-Morris drained a three to make Boston College's deficit just nine points with 4:06 remaining. The Eagles could cut no closer than eight, though, as Holy Cross made its free throws and played staunch defense the rest of the way – including an emphatic blocked shot from Faulkner with 1:39 remaining.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• The Crusaders' most recent win over a Power 5 school came on Dec. 10, 2014, also a home win over Boston College.
• Wednesday's game marked the first time since the 2016 season that the Crusaders have had five players score double-figure points in a single game.
• Holy Cross' 51 rebounds is its most in a single game since the team also had 51 in its contest at Bryant on Dec. 30, 2018.
• Swords' double-double was the eighth of her career.
• Faulkner's career-high 16 points came following an impressive performance against Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 9, in which she matched her previous career high of 13.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders return to the Hart Center on Nov. 20 when they host Bryant at 7 p.m.