WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior
Bronagh Power-Cassidy scored a game-high 20 points as the top-seeded Holy Cross women's basketball team defeated No. 4 Loyola (Md.), 72-54, in the semifinal round of the 2024 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Tournament on Thursday, March 14 at the Hart Center Arena.
The Crusaders (19-12) advance to the Patriot League Championship Game for the second consecutive season, where they will host No. 3 Boston University (20-11) at noon on Sunday, March 17 in a rematch of the 2023 title game. Sunday's contest will mark the first time Holy Cross has hosted a Patriot League Championship Game since the 2008 season.
The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network. Tickets are available for purchase through the
Holy Cross Ticket Office, either online or by calling 1-844-GO-CROSS.
Power-Cassidy shot 60 percent (6-of-10) from the field and was a perfect 2-for-2 from deep and 6-of-6 at the line. She chipped in a game-high eight rebounds to go with a blocked shot. Senior
Cara McCormack dropped 16 points on an efficient 4-of-6 (66.7 percent) three-point efficiency. Sophomore
Kaitlyn Flanagan added 12 points a game-high five assists while senior
Janelle Allen scored 11 points with four boards and four assists.
For Loyola (Md.) (16-15), Laura Salmeron produced 17 points on 60 percent (6-of-10) shooting.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- A transition three from Flanagan doubled up the margin at 8-4 at the 6:31 mark. Power-Cassidy made a pretty post move to push the Crusaders ahead 18-13. Holy Cross closed the quarter outscoring their opponents 6-2 to lead 24-15.
- A 9-4 run for the Crusaders led by a McCormack triple and two buckets in the second moved the hosts ahead 33-21. Holy Cross held a 35-25 advantage at the half.
- In the third, a sophomore Simone Foreman drive from the wing and through traffic opened up an 18 point, 50-32 Crusader edge. Back-to-back treys by Loyola brought them within 12, 50-38 as the Crusaders took a timeout. A buzzer beater by the Greyhounds put them down 10, 53-43 through three.
- A pair of freebies at 5:32 in the fourth off the shot of the Greyhounds made it an eight point game. 59-51. The Crusaders closed the game on a 13-3 run for the victory.
OUTSIDE THE BOX:
- Holy Cross dominated the paint outscoring Loyola 30-to-18 and outrebounding them 37-24.
- Power-Cassidy moved into fourth place on the program's all-time three-point list (185) passing Briana McFadden (183, 2006-10). McCormack is tied for 10th place on the career three-point list with Kim Lynch (144, 1992-96) and needs one more for sole possession of 10th place.
- Power-Cassidy has scored 20 or more points 17 times in her career. The Crusaders are 13-4 (.765) in those games an 8-2 (.800) during the 2023-4 season.
- Flanagan has reached double figures in five of the last six games.
- Holy Cross (14-2 at home) tied the single season win record in the Hart Center Arena (14-1, 1995-96, 1999-00).
- Across three games this season, the Crusaders held First Team All-Patriot League selection Lex Therien to 9.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, on 39.1 percent (9-of-23) shooting.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
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