WORCESTER, Mass. – Led by senior Bronagh Power-Cassidy's game-high 21 points, the Holy Cross women's basketball team claimed the 2024 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Championship, knocking off Boston University, 61-55, Sunday afternoon in a raucous Hart Center Arena.

The Crusaders (20-12) have won back-to-back Patriot League Championships, becoming the first team to do so since Navy's three-peat (2011, 2012, 2013). Holy Cross awaits the NCAA Selection Show, airing Sunday night at 8 p.m., to see who it will play in the NCAA Tournament.

Power-Cassidy was named Patriot League Championship MVP for the second consecutive season. The Dublin, Ireland native thrived on Saint Patrick's Day, shooting 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from the field, 4-of-6 (66.7 percent) from deep with eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. She averaged 18.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game on 46.5 percent (20-of-43) shooting and 8-of-16 (50%) from range.

Joining Power-Cassidy on the All-Tournament Team were seniors Cara McCormack and Janelle Allen. McCormack totaled 15 points with four rebounds and three assists, scoring 13 of her 15 markers in the second half. Allen notched six points and did most of her work on defense, holding Boston University's (20-12) Patriot League Player and Defensive Player of the Year Caitlin Weimar to only seven points on 2-of-7 (28.5 percent) shooting, which was her second lowest total of the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross began the game on an 8-2 run with Power-Cassidy contributing four points in two steals before a Terrier timeout. The run expanded to 10-2 when Power-Cassidy drove through the paint. BU connected on a three as the horn sounded to trail 15-10 through one.
• Sophomore Simone Foreman cashed a triple at the buzzer for the 20-13 Holy Cross edge with 7:34 left in the second quarter. BU scored six straight points to make it a one-point game, 20-19, with 5:15 left before half. The Terrier lead stayed at one until Holy Cross closed the half on a 12-2 burst, getting eight points from Power-Cassidy to lead 34-23.
• Power-Cassidy connected on a trailer three to increase the Crusader edge to 17, 42-25, as BU took a timeout with 5:52 to go in the third. BU scored seven straight points to pull within 10, 43-33 as Holy Cross looked to cool momentum by using a 30-second timeout. The run expanded to 10-0 off a free throw as BU was down 43-36. McCormack drained a huge three to end the period, reestablishing the 10-point Crusader lead.
•  The closest the Terriers came was within six points at the 7:58 mark. McCormack scored five straight markers to grow the edge back to 11, 51-40. A pair of sophomore Kaitlyn Flanagan free throws moved the score to 53-43 with 2:17 left. BU battled but could not make it a one score game.

OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• Foreman was massive on the boards, securing a team-best nine rebounds with four on the offensive end.
• The Crusaders scored 13 points off 17 BU turnovers, while the Terriers could only capitalize with four points on 10 Holy Cross miscues.
• McCormack moved into a tie for ninth place with Infiniti Thomas-Waheed (147, 2014-18) on the program's all-time three-point list.
• This is the third straight year the Crusaders have won 20 or more games and 24th time in program history.
• Holy Cross established a new single-season win mark in the Hart Center with 15.

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