WORCESTER, Mass. – Seniors Bronagh Power-Cassidy and Cara McCormack willed the Crusaders back from a 10-point third quarter deficit as the Holy Cross women's basketball team earned their ninth straight victory, 59-48 over Patriot League opponent American Wednesday evening in the Hart Center Arena.

The win gives the first place Crusaders (13-5, 7-0 PL) a two game lead over American (7-11, 5-2 PL) in the Patriot League standings.

Power-Cassidy was on her game from the opening tip-off. She finished with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) shooting to go with 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season and her career. McCormack, who was held scoreless through three quarters notched all nine of her markers in the final stanza.

The no. 3 ranked scoring defense in the nation held American to only 15 second half points on 17.2 percent shooting (5-of-29) and 7.1 percent (1-of-14) from three-point land. In the fourth quarter alone American was 0-of-9 from deep and the Crusaders drew four offensive fouls.

Lauren Stack was the lone Eagle in double-figures with 11 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• American led 9-7 at the media timeout. A layup with 2:55 to go pushed the guests ahead 14-11. Six straight for the Crusaders which included a steal off the inbounds by sophomore Simone Foreman moved the Crusaders into the lead at 17-14 before American came within one, 17-16 through 10 minutes.
• Power-Cassidy scored her 11th point of the first half regaining the lead to the hosts at 21-19. American closed the half on a 14-5 outburst to lead 33-26 at the intermission.
• Six straight points from Power-Cassidy dropped the deficit to two possessions, 38-34 with 6:23 left in the third. Holy Cross kept chipping away and a sophomore Kaitlyn Flanagan got a layup to fall at the buzzer to trail by one, 42-41.
• McCormack checked back into the game with 6:26 left to play and made an immediate impact turning a one-point Crusader lead into an eight point edge via seven consecutive markers. McCormack produced two free throws late for the Crusaders largest lead.

OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• The nine game winning streak is the longest in the Maureen Magarity era at Holy Cross and the second longest of her coaching career (13 games, Dec. 18, 2016 to Feb. 1, 2017). It is also the longest winning streak for the Crusaders since 2004-05 when Holy Cross won 11 straight games.
• This was the first time the Crusaders trailed at halftime in Patriot League play and their 10 point comeback win was their second largest of the season (vs. Brown 13 pts, 1Q, Nov. 9, 2023).
• Senior Janelle Allen had a season-high four blocks in the contest.
• Foreman tallied double-digit rebounds for the eighth time this season.
• Holy Cross is 19-4 (.826) when Flanagan records four or more assists.
• The Crusaders improved to 9-0 (1.000) at home this season.

POSTGAME THOUGHTS:

Postgame with @CoachMagarityHC and @bronaghpc13 ???#GoCrossGo pic.twitter.com/vUNtScs7o1
— Holy Cross Women's Basketball (@HCrossWBB) January 25, 2024
 

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross hits the road for their final away contest this month when they head to Lehigh (11-7, 3-4 PL) on Saturday, Jan. 27 for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
• Season tickets and single-game tickets for the 2023-24 campaign are now on sale through the Holy Cross Ticket Office.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
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