The Holy Cross women's basketball team begins Patriot League action in the Hart Center Arena on Wednesday, Jan 3 with a 7 p.m. contest against conference opponent Bucknell. The contest will stream live on ESPN+.
 
Jan. 3 is Healthcare Heroes Night. All doctors, nurses, and healthcare personnel can claim up to two (2) complimentary tickets to the game as a thank you for all you do to keep the community healthy.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (6-5, 0-0 PL): 

• Holy Cross is coming off a 55-43 victory against Merrimack on Dec. 20. Three players reached double figures including sophomore Simone Foreman who dropped 12 points with seven boards, three steals and two assists.
• Senior Cara McCormack was named Patriot League Honorable Mention on Dec. 26. McCormack scored a team-high 14 points with a career-high eight rebounds, four assists, three three-pointers and a steal in the victory.
• A suffocating and stifling defense is the calling card for the Crusaders under head coach Maureen Magarity. As of Jan 2., Holy Cross ranks seventh in the nation in scoring defense (50.8), seventh field goal percentage defense (32.7), eighth in three-point field goal percentage defense (23.4), ninth in defensive rebounds per game (31.9) and 24th in blocks per game (5.1), all are tops in the Patriot League except for three-point percentage defense. Under Magarity, Holy Cross is 52-5 (.912) when holding teams under 60 points.
• Holy Cross is 4-2 over their last six games. The Crusaders have allowed only 44.5 points per game while holding opponents to 21.3 percent (23-for-108) three-point shooting while outrebounding foes by 12.2 boards per game.
• The Crusaders are the top team in the Patriot League in RPI/NET Ratings as of Jan. 1 at 138. They are followed by Lehigh (195), Boston Univ. (202), Colgate (208), Bucknell (282), Lafayette (295), Loyola (Md.) (306), American (310), Navy (340), and Army West Point (349).

SCOUTING THE BISON (3-8, 0-0 PL): 

• Bucknell is 1-4 over their last five games including a 67-39 setback to no. 19 Marquette back on Dec. 21. Ashley Sofilkanich scored a team-high 12 points with three boards, three blocks and a steal in the loss.
• Sofilkanich is a two-time Patriot League PenFed Credit Union Rookie of the Week capturing the award back on Dec. 4 and Dec. 18. She paces the Bison on scoring (11.3), blocks per game (1.8), steals per game (1.3) and is second in rebounding (4.9). She is the conference leader in blocks per game.
• The Bison are 0-6 on the road this season averaging only 46.3 points per game and being outrebounded by 13.2 boards per contest. Dating back to the end of 2022-23, Bucknell has lost eight straight road games.
• As of Jan. 1, Bucknell has had the toughest nonconference schedule in the Patriot League ranking as the 63rd toughest in the nation. They are followed by Lafayette (157) and Holy Cross (195).

LAST TIME THEY MET: 

• Holy Cross is 49-26 in the series against Bucknell which began in 1991. The Crusaders are 29-8 at home against the Bison and 3-1 over their last four matchups.
• In their last meeting on Jan 21. 2023 the Crusaders earned a 69-50 win in Worcester. Cara McCormack scored a career-high 20 points with five three-pointers in the victory.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross women's basketball team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossWBB | @goholycross
Instagram - @hcrosswbb | @goholycross
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