The Holy Cross women's basketball team Patriot League tournament championship title defense starts on Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. against Bucknell for a 2024 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women's Basketball Championship quarterfinal round matchup in the Hart Center Arena. The contest will stream live through ESPN+ with Kevin Gehl (play-by-play) and Justin Gallanty (analyst) on the call.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT #1 HOLY CROSS (17-12, 11-7 PL): 

• Holy Cross has won three of their last five games including a 77-69 victory on Wednesday, March 6 which gave the Crusaders their 13th overall Patriot League regular-season championship. Senior Bronagh Power-Cassidy dropped 30 points setting a new career-high with seven three-pointers (7-of-10, 70%) which was tied for the second most during a game in program history. Sophomore Kaitlyn Flanagan chipped in a season-high matching 13 points with six assists.
• Over the last five games, Power-Cassidy is averaging 24.2 points per game on 53.2 percent (41-of-77) shooting and 48.8 percent (20-of-41) from deep. Flanagan is posing 10.2 points per game on 51.6 percent (16-of-31) shooting with 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
• On Friday, the Patriot League 2023-24 Postseason Awards were announced. Power-Cassidy highlighted the Crusader selections with an All-League first team bid. Classmate Janelle Allen was chosen to the All-Patriot League third team for the second straight season while fellow captain Cara McCormack joined Allen on the third team, Holy Cross highlighted the All-League teams with a league best three selections.  
• In two games against Bucknell this year, Power-Cassidy is averaging 23.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game on 46.9 percent (15-of-32) shooting and 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) at the line.

HOLY CROSS IN THE PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT:

• The Crusaders have won a conference-best 12 Patriot League championships since the league's inception back in 1990-91. They are looking to become the first back-to-back conference champion since Navy (2011, 2012, 2013).
• Overall, Holy Cross is 50-20 (.717) in the Patriot League Championship tournament. They hold an 18-8 (.692) record during the quarterfinal round. The Crusaders are 27-6 (.818) when playing at home in the conference dance.
• In the history of the Patriot League tournament, the no. 1 seed has a 21-3 (.875) record against the no. 8 seed. The last time a no. 8 seed beat a no. 1 seed was March 7, 2022 when Navy beat Holy Cross at the buzzer, 50-49.
• Holy Cross is 6-5 (.545) against Bucknell overall in the conference dance including a 3-2 (.600) record at home. The last meeting between these two programs in the league tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SCOUTING THE #8 BISON (13-17, 9-9 PL): 

• No. 8 Bucknell has won four of their last five games and is coming off a 77-71 first round victory over no. 9 American on Saturday evening. Four players reached double-figures including Blake Matthews who scored 17 points to go with 11 assists and six rebounds.
• The Bison had two student-athletes earn All-League accolades. Emma Theodorsson was named to the All-League second team while Ashley Sofilkanich made the third, all-defensive and all-rookie teams.
• In two games against the Crusaders this year Theodorsson is averaging 16.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game on 50 percent (15-of-30) shooting. As a team, Bucknell is only shooting 28.6 percent (12-of-42) from range against the Crusaders.

BUCKNELL IN THE PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT:

• Bucknell has won four conference championships with their last coming during the 2018-19 season, a 66-54 victory over American.
• Overall, the Bison are 27-28 (.491) in the league championship tournament. Bucknell is 16-15 (.516) in the quarterfinal round and have a 5-11 (.313) mark on the road in the PLT.

LAST TIME THEY MET: 

• Holy Cross is 51-26 (.662) in the series against Bucknell which began in 1991.
• The Crusaders earned a 58-47 overtime victory in Lewisburg the last time out. Holy Cross outscored Bucknell 13-2 in the extra period while 16 of Bronagh Power-Cassidy's 26 points came in the fourth quarter and overtime.
• The Crusaders are 29-9 (.763) in the Hart Center Arena against the Bison

UP NEXT: 

• The winner of this game will take on the winner of the no. 5 Lehigh/no. 4 Loyola (Md.) game in the semifinal round on Thursday, March 14 hosted by the highest remaining seed.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
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