The Holy Cross women's basketball program begins their 2023-24 campaign when they travel to Chestnut Hill to square off against nonconference opponent Boston College Monday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. in Conte Forum. The contest will stream live through the ACC Network on ESPN+.

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

• Last season, Holy Cross (24-9, 13-5 PL) captured the 2023 Patriot League Tournament Championship their 12th tournament championship, the most in the Patriot League and first since 2007 with a 66-61 win at Boston University on March 12, 2023.
• In 2022-23, the Crusaders notched their 23rd 20+ win season in program history and back-to-back 20+ win campaigns for the first time since the 2001-02, and 2002-03 seasons. The 24 victories for the Crusaders tie for the second most in program history matching the 24-8 record during the 2002-03 season. It is only the second time a Crusader team has reached 24 wins. The most wins in program history are 25 which happened in 1990-91 (25-6).
• The Crusaders were projected to repeat as conference champions follow the release of the 2023-24 Patriot League Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Crusaders earned 160 points and 16 out of a possible 18 first place votes. Senior Bronagh Power-Cassidy was selected to the Preseason All-Patriot League team.
• Holy Cross returns four starters, Power-Cassidy, senior Janelle Allen, junior Lindsay Berger and sophomore Kaitlyn Flanagan. Senior Cara McCormack will play meaningful minutes as guards, junior Grace Munt, sophomore Simone Foreman and sophomore Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly try to replace the production of recent graduate, Addisyn Cross. A trio of freshman come into the fold this season for the Crusaders as well, guards Janie Bachmann, Hannah Griffin and forward Simone Lewis.
• Since Maureen Magarity arrived on The Hill, Holy Cross is 46-4 (.920) when holding opponents under 60 points in a game. When leading at halftime, Magarity's teams are 40-5 (.889).

SCOUTING THE EAGLES (0-0, 0-0 ACC): 

• Boston College finished the 2021-22 campaign with a 16-17, 5-13 ACC mark and were projected to finish 13th out of 15 teams following the release of the 2023-24 Blue Ribbon Panel Predicted Order of Finish (61 voters).
• Returning for the Eagles is leading scorer and rebounder Dontavia Waggoner. Waggoner averaged 13.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game which would have ranked 14th and sixth in the ACC respectively if she played in enough games to qualify.
• Holy Cross alumna Avery LaBarbera '22 is in her first year as a graduate assistant coach for the Eagles. LaBarbera, the 2021-22 Patriot League Player of the Year and 2018-19 Patriot League Rookie of the Year finished her career as the program's all-time leader in free throw percentage (86.5%), ranked second in average minutes played (34.8), third in three-point field goals made (212) and three-point attempts (664), sixth all-time in minutes played (3,718), seventh in scoring average (13.8), double-doubles (21) and field goal attempts (1,361) and is 13th on the all-time scoring list with 1,478 points.
• Since 2018-19, the Eagles are 53-5 (.914) when they allow 65 points or less.

LAST TIME THEY MET: 

• The Crusaders are 10-32 (.238) in the series history with the Eagles dating back to 1978.
• During their last meeting on Nov. 23, 2022, the Eagles rallied from a nine point third quarter deficit to win 52-42. Lindsay Berger scored a team-high 17 points on 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) shooting with six rebounds in the setback.
• Holy Cross has lost 11 straight meetings at Conte Forum with their last victory coming in Chestnut Hill on December 9, 1997, an 80-68 Crusader win.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
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