As the Holy Cross women's basketball team prepares to open the 2019-20 campaign at the University of Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 9, the Crusaders look to build off momentum generated a season ago – with the tools in place to be one of the Patriot League's most dangerous teams.

Holy Cross went 8-3 in nonconference play a year ago and 9-9 in league action, including a 6-3 run during the second half of Patriot League play. Holy Cross got a taste of postseason success as well, knocking off higher-seeded BU in the quarterfinal of the Patriot League Tournament after a thrilling comeback and late game-winning bucket by then-sophomore guard Jenay Faulkner. When all was said and done, the Crusaders went 18-13 overall in 2018-19, posting their winningest season since 2013-14.

"Our players got a feel for what it was like to win," said Holy Cross head coach Ann McInerney. "They really upped their intensity level in the second half of the season, and it showed on the court. In the offseason and preseason, the energy and excitement have really been building, and we can't wait to take the court officially.

"It's a great group of young women. It's just fun to come to practice every day. This group is extremely dedicated, they're hardworking student-athletes, and they make coaching a lot of fun."

The Crusaders return 99.1 percent of their scoring and 98.7 percent of their minutes played from a season ago. Their starting five from last year remains intact, and the team returns a number of reliable and energetic options off the bench. The Patriot League's coaches took notice of Holy Cross' tremendous experience, depth and talent, voting the Crusaders to finish a close second behind Lehigh in a preseason poll released in October.

The Crusaders recognize the opportunity they have to do something great – but they aren't getting too far ahead of themselves just yet.

"It's a marathon, not a sprint," McInerney said. "Just compete, and just stay in the process. Our motto has been WIN: What's Important Now. Don't look too far down the road, don't look behind. Stay in our huddle, block out the noise and enjoy the journey."

FRONTCOURT
Senior forward Lauren Manis – consistently one of the league's top players in her three years on The Hill – enters the 2019-20 season looking to lead the Crusaders once again. Manis, a three-time All-Patriot League and two-time Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year selection, ranked second in the Patriot League in scoring (16.8 points per game) and rebounding (11.1 per game) a season ago. In 2018-19, Manis recorded 344 rebounds, second-most in program history, and 20 double-doubles, third-most in program history and 11th in all of Division I, en route to her second consecutive All-Patriot League first team honor.

Senior center Megan Swords overcame injury early in her Holy Cross career to post a spectacular junior season, starting 30 games and averaging 10.2 points and 7.2 boards per contest – after starting four games and averaging 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 2017-18. She was named the Holy Cross athletic department's Breakthrough Athlete of the Year in May.

Sophomore Oluchi Ezemma returns as the Crusaders' go-to sixth man, averaging 18.5 minutes a game while appearing in all 31 of Holy Cross' contests in 2018-19. On the season, she recorded 6.1 points and 5.4 rebounds a game; over the final 11 games of the year, that average improved to 7.7 points and 7.6 rebounds.

6-foot-3 sophomore Madison Demski brings tremendous skill and basketball IQ to the post, and junior Shannon Murphy helps solidify the team's defense and is a difference-maker on the boards.

BACKCOURT
Sophomore Avery LaBarbera, the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year and a third team and All-Rookie selection, recorded 11.3 points per game as a freshman, leading the team with 40 steals and ranking second with 87 assists.

A two-time captain, senior Madalyn Smith looks again to drive the Crusaders' offense once again. She led the team with 118 assists a year ago, ranking second in the Patriot League, while also contributing 6.9 points and 2.4 boards per game. Along with Manis, she was one of two players to start all 31 contests in 2018-19.

Faulkner will look to round out the Crusaders' starting five after starting 13 of her 17 appearances a year ago. In addition to averaging 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds a game, she additionally averaged more than two assists and one steal per contest, providing versatility for the Crusaders.

Senior Kathryn Pedi was a sharpshooter a season ago, leading Holy Cross with a .406 3-point percentage. Her classmate, Nicole Morris, is one of the team's best defenders, totaling 18 steals a year ago. 6-foot-1 sophomore Kelly Petro provides strength and size for the Crusaders. Holy Cross' freshman class consists of a pair of guards: a combo guard in Addisyn Cross, from Villa Maria Academy in Erie, Pa., and a pure scorer in Kerry Flaherty, a graduate of Saratoga Springs High School.

SCHEDULE
Following its season opener at Illinois on Saturday, Holy Cross returns to Worcester for its home opener on Nov. 13, hosting Boston College at the Hart Center.

Holy Cross will play a pair of nonconference matchups at home against Bryant and Merrimack on Nov. 20 and 23, and then will hit the road for four straight games against Brown (Dec. 1), Rhode Island (Dec. 4), UMass Amherst (Dec. 8) and Sacred Heart (Dec. 12).

On Dec. 22, Holy Cross will host New Hampshire at 2 p.m. before Christmas break. Following the holiday, the Crusaders will fly to Florida for a pair of matchups at North Florida on Dec. 28 and at Stetson on Dec. 30.

Conference play will commence at Loyola (Md.) on Jan. 2, followed by a Jan. 4 contest at Navy. Home Patriot League play will begin on Jan. 8 against Lafayette before the Crusaders host reigning conference champion Bucknell on Jan. 11.

The first round of the Patriot League Championship is scheduled for March 7, with the championship game set for March 15.

2019-20 Roster
2019-20 Schedule
2018-19 Stats