The Holy Cross women's basketball team opens its 2020-21 season with a home-and-home series against Boston University starting on Monday, Jan. 4.

The Crusaders and Terriers will begin the series in Boston at 2 p.m. on Monday before heading to Worcester on Tuesday, Jan. 5, for a 2 p.m. tipoff at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex.

Originally scheduled for Jan. 2-3, the two games were postponed due to Boston University's testing schedule and cadence resulting from the holiday break.

Both games will be broadcasted live on the Patriot League on ESPN+.

HOLY CROSS AT A GLANCE:

• Maureen Magarity will make her debut as head coach of the Crusaders against the Terriers on Monday and Tuesday after being hired on April 14. Magarity brings a combined 21 years of Division I playing and coaching experience to The Hill, and served as the head coach of the University of New Hampshire from 2010-2020.
• Holy Cross returns junior guard Avery LaBarbera, a preseason All-Patriot League selection who is a two-time All-Patriot League honoree and was named the League's Rookie of the Year in 2018-19. A year ago, she averaged 13.7 points per game while also leading the conference in free throw percentage (.827) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1).
• Junior Oluchi Ezemma is the team's returning leader in rebounds, averaging 5.4 boards per game last season.  
• Last season, Holy Cross posted a 19-11 overall record with an 11-7 mark in Patriot League play to finish tied for third in the Patriot League standings. As a result, the Crusaders hosted a Patriot League quarterfinal matchup for the first time since 2015, and the Crusaders' 19 wins were their most in a single season since 2013-14.
• The Crusaders closed out their 2019-20 season on a four-game winning streak; their final game of the year was a 52-33 Patriot League quarterfinal victory over Lafayette on March 9. The Patriot League Tournament was canceled on March 12 due to COVID-19 concerns; Holy Cross had been scheduled to face top-seeded Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa., in a semifinal matchup that evening.
• Holy Cross is 25-21 all-time in season openers. Since 2012-13, Holy Cross is 4-4 in its season-opening contests, and has won two of its last three season openers.
• The Crusaders have won their last three home openers. Prior to a win on Nov. 13, 2019 against BC, Holy Cross posted a 71-61 result against Rider on Nov. 11, 2018 and a 59-57 overtime victory over Bryant on Nov. 26, 2017.
• LaBarbera has averaged 17 points per game in her first two home openers.

BU AT A GLANCE:

• The Terriers finished the 2019-20 campaign ranked second in the Patriot League with a 12-6 conference record; BU posted an 18-12 record overall.
• Prior to the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, the Terriers had advanced to the semifinal round of the Patriot League Tournament.
• BU brings back 12 student-athletes from last year's team, including all five primary starters (Riley Childs, Maren Durant, Sydney Johnson, Katie Nelson and Maggie Pina).
• Additionally, the Terriers return 85% of their total scoring and 89% of their total minutes.
• Nelson, a two-time All-Patriot League selection, was named to the 2020-21 Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Nelson led last season's squad with 12.4 points per game and 3.6 assists per game, while additionally leading all Division I players with 39.4 minutes per game.
• Pina is the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year; she averaged 11.5 points per game a season ago.

LAST TIME THEY MET:

• Boston University swept the season series in 2019-20, with a 76-70 overtime win on Jan. 25 followed by a Feb. 8 victory by a score of 62-51.
• In the Jan. 25 matchup, the Crusaders led by as much as 18, 32-14, before the Terriers stormed back for the victory.
• On Feb. 8, LaBarbera's 17 points were not enough to give Holy Cross the victory.
• Holy Cross holds the edge in the all-time series, at 18-8.
• In five career games against Boston University, LaBarbera is averaging 13.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 36.4 minutes per game.
• Ezemma has seen success in her career against Boston University; one of the best performances of her career was a 17-point, 13-rebound showing during a Patriot League quarterfinal win against BU on March 11, 2019.