WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's basketball team looks to remain undefeated in Patriot League play when they travel to Washington, D.C. to take on American Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at Bender Arena. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (8-5, 2-0 PL): 

• The Crusaders won their second straight contest a 64-53 victory against league opponent Lehigh on Saturday afternoon. Senior Oluchi Ezemma recorded her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the Holy Cross win.
• Avery LaBarbera was named the GEICO Patriot League Player of the Week the conference offices announced Monday afternoon. LaBarbera matched a career-high with 30 points and gobbled up a personal-best 17 boards for her fourth straight double-double. LaBarbera has double-doubled in six of the last seven contests.
• Holy Cross paces the Patriot League and ranks 36th in the NCAA in scoring defense allowing 55.7 points per game. They also are the conference leaders and 35th (25.6%) and 49th (35.9%) in the NCAA respectively in three-point and field goal percentage defense.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES (8-4, 1-1 PL): 

• American, winners of six of their last eight hosts the Crusaders following a 69-46 setback to Boston University on Saturday afternoon. Taylor Brown paced the Eagle attack with 15 points and six rebounds in the defeat.
• American's Jade Edwards was selected as the 2021-22 Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year. Edwards paces the program in points (14.0), rebounds (5.8), and assists (3.7) per game. Her 2.2 steals per game mark is third in the league. Edwards needs only four points to reach 1,000 for her career.
• The Eagles are the top shooting program in the conference. They have converted 43.3% of their shot attempts, but have taken the second least shots in the league this year.

LAST TIME THEY MET: 

• Holy Cross holds a 24-19 advantage in the series between the two programs which began back in 2000.
• In their last meeting on February 29, 2020, Holy Cross earned a 73-58 win. Then-sophomore Avery LaBarbera tallied 17 points, six assists, and three rebounds for the Crusaders.

UPDATED COVID PROTOCOLS FOR BENDER ARENA

• In response to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the region, American University Athletics is announcing increased safety measures for events at Bender Arena.
• Concessions: Due to health and safety protocols related to COVID-19, concessions will temporarily not be available to patrons for home events at Bender.
• Eagles Club Hospitality Suite: Due to health and safety protocols related to COVID-19, there will be a temporary pause on all Eagles Club Hospitality operations for men's and women's basketball games.