The 10 win Holy Cross women's basketball team travels to the nation's capital for a Thursday evening tilt with reigning Patriot League Tournament champion American on Jan. 5 with opening tip slated for 7 p.m. The contest will stream live through ESPN+.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (10-3, 2-0 PL): 

• Holy Cross has won seven of their last eight games after grinding out a 53-40 win at home against Navy on Monday afternoon. Junior Bronagh Power-Cassidy carried the offense for the Crusaders with 15 points while classmate Cara McCormack dropped 12 markers in the victory.
• Power-Cassidy was named Patriot League Honorable Mention on Tuesday. She averaged 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game on 45.5% (10-of-22) shooting and 58.3% (7-of-12) efficiency from three-point land in a 2-0 week. The Crusaders are 8-0 when Power-Cassidy scores in double figures and 2-3 when she does not.  
• As of Jan. 4, the Crusaders rank 10th in the NCAA in scoring defense holding opponents to 52.8 points per game.
• The Crusaders' 10-3 record through 13 games matches their 10-3 mark in the 2013-14 season. Holy Cross has started the Patriot League slate 2-0 for the third time over the last four years and for the 16th time in program history.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES (3-10, 2-0 PL): 

• American has won two consecutive contests and three of their last four games including a 52-37 win at Loyola (Md.) Monday evening. Emily Johns played 36 minutes for the Eagles amassing a game-high 14 points with five boards on 7-of-12 (58.3%) shooting.
• Johns was selected as Patriot League Honorable Mention Tuesday afternoon Against Lafayette, Johns went 6-for-8 (75%) from the field, leading the Eagles with 14 points while also grabbing four rebounds, three assists, and a steal Eight of Johns' 14 markers against Loyola came in the final quarter when the Eagles went 20-9 against the Greyhounds.
• The Eagles captured their third Patriot League title last season defeating Bucknell 65-54 at Bender Arena. This season, American was picked to finish eighth out of 10 teams in the conference earning 58 points.
• American has faced one of the toughest schedules out of Patriot League teams this year. As of Jan. 4, their opponent success ranking is 79th which is the highest in the conference. Bucknell ranks second at 205 and Holy Cross is third at 290.

LAST TIME THEY MET: 

• Holy Cross is 24-21 (.553) in the series history against American dating back to 2000.
• The Crusaders split the regular season series last year and won the last matchup 55-44 in the Hart Center on Jan. 26, 2022. Janelle Allen scored 10 points with six rebounds and two steals in the victory.
• The Crusaders are 10-13 (.435) against the Eagles on the road.

 
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