The Holy Cross women's basketball team Patriot League tournament championship title defense continues on Sunday, March 17 at noon against no. 3 Boston University the a 2024 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women's Basketball Championship game in the Hart Center Arena. The contest will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network with Jason Knapp (play-by-play), Leah Secondo (analyst) and Maria Trivelpiece (sidelines) on the call.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT #1 HOLY CROSS (19-12, 11-7 PL): 

• Holy Cross has won five of their last seven games including a 72-54 victory against Loyola (Md.) in the semifinal round. Four players reached double figures for the Crusaders including senior Bronagh Power-Cassidy scored a game-best 20 points to go with eight rebounds in the victory.
• Over the last seven games, Power-Cassidy, the 2024 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year is averaging 22.1 points per game on 50.5 percent (53-of-105) shooting and 47.1 percent (24-of-51) from deep. All-League third team selection, senior Cara McCormack is averaging 10.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest while sophomore Kaitlyn Flanagan is averaging 10.3 points on 53.3 percent (24-of-45) shooting with 4.0 assists per game.
• The Crusaders are 14-2 in the Hart Center Arena during 2023-24. They need one more win to set the program record for most home wins in a season (14, 1995-96, 1999-00). Holy Cross has a +11.1 scoring margin at home this season compared to a +1.5 margin on the road.
• During the Patriot League Tournament, four Crusaders are averaging double figures, Power-Cassidy (17.0), McCormack (12.5), senior Janelle Allen (12.0) and Flanagan (10.5). Sophomore Simone Foreman is averaging 10.0 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game off the bench.
• As a team in the league tourney, the Crusaders have an 11.5 scoring margin and are outshooting teams from the floor (45.0 percent to 41.2 percent) from deep (36.4 percent-to-30.4 percent) and outrebounding foes (34.0-to-26.0).
• A victory would give the Crusaders 20 wins for the third straight season. It would be the first time since 2000-2003 that Holy Cross had 20 or more wins in three consecutive seasons.

HOLY CROSS IN THE PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT:

• The Crusaders have won a conference-best 12 Patriot League championships and have appeared in the championship game a conference-high 20 times 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 52-20 (.722) in the Patriot League Championship tournament, which are the most wins by any league program. They hold a 12-7 (.632) record during the championship round. The Crusaders are 29-6 (.829) when playing at home in the conference dance and are 11-2 in the Hart Center during the championship game.
• In the history of the Patriot League tournament, the no. 1 seed has a 7-0 (1.000) record against the no. 3 seed in the championship game.
• Holy Cross is 2-0 (1.000) against Boston University in the Patriot League tournament with both games the 2023 Patriot League championship (66-61) and the 2019 Patriot League quarterfinals (72-70) decided by a combined seven points.

SCOUTING THE #3 TERRIERS (20-11, 10-8 PL): 

• No. 3 BU is 5-2 over their last seven games earning a 52-40 victory on the road at no. 2 Colgate on Thursday evening. Caitlin Weimar dominated in the post scoring a game-high 26 points with 12 rebounds in a double-double effort.
• Last Friday, Weimar was named the 2024 Patriot League Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Weimar ranks sixth in the NCAA in blocks per game (2.9) and is 13th in double-doubles (18). Alex Giannaros joined Weimar on the All-Patriot League first team.
• In two games against the Crusaders this year, Weimar is averaging a double-double, 19.0 points and 12.5 rebounds on 60 percent (15-of-25) shooting.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY IN THE PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT:

• BU has yet to win a Patriot League Championship since joining the league in 2013. They are currently 0-2 in the conference title game falling to Lehigh 64-54 on March 14, 2021 and Holy Cross 66-61 on March 12, 2023. This is their third appearance in the championship game.
• Overall, the Terriers are 9-9 (.500) in the league championship tournament. On the road, BU is 1-6 (.143).

LAST TIME THEY MET: 

• Holy Cross is 23-15 (.605) in the series against BU which began in 1975.
• In their last meeting on March 2, BU rallied from a 21 point deficit to win 66-63 in Case Gymnasium.

UP NEXT: 

• The winner of this game will receive the Patriot League automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament.

 
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