WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior Meg Cahalan scored a game-high 17 points as the Holy Cross women's basketball team won their fifth straight game, a wire-to-wire 53-27 victory versus Patriot League foe Loyola (Md.) Saturday afternoon in the Hart Center Arena.
 
Cahalan was 7-of-14 (50 percent) from the field and 3-of-6 (50 percent) from deep with three blocks for the Crusaders (14-5, 7-1 PL). Sophomore Kendall Eddy joined her teammate in double digits with 11 points. Junior Kaitlyn Flanagan had six points five assists and zero turnovers.
 
Holy Cross held Loyola (Md.) to 27 points in the contest which established a new program record for fewest points allowed in a game (29 – vs. Army – Jan. 20, 1996). The eight points allowed in the first half also set the program record for the fewest points allowed in a half (10 - vs. Army - Jan. 20, 1996).
 
For Loyola (Md.) (7-12, 1-7 PL), Koi Sims scored six points and grabbed 10 boards in the setback.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Flanagan played a role in the first 10 points of the game for the Crusaders by feeding Cahalan for eight points the converting a layup underneath to lead 10-0 with 3:10 left in the first. Loyola countered with their first bucket then Cahalan connected on her 10th point of the period. Senior Lindsay Berger got a second chance score for the 16-4 edge through one.
• Holy Cross' lead expanded to 18, 22-4 when Flanagan went coast-to-coast for a layup with 5:59 left until the intermission. A pair of Berger free throws increased the margin to 30-8 at the break.
• Sophomore Hannah Griffin scored the final four points of the third quarter to open up a 27 point, 45-18 advantage following three stanzas.  
• In the fourth, Holy Cross upped the edge to 29, 47-18 thanks to Cahalan's 17th point of the battle.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Cahalan scored 10 of her 17 points in the first quarter shooting 4-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from deep.
• Flanagan recorded her third game over the last five contests with no turnovers. She has 12 games of zero turnovers in her career. Holy Cross is 12-0 (1.000) in those contests.
• Senior Lauren Huber matched a career-high with three steals.
• Griffin's four points were a new career-best.
• It was the second time this season the Crusaders have held a team to 0.0 percent (0-of-16) from three-point range (at Massachusetts, 0-of-7).
• Holy Cross scored 17 points off 15 Loyola (Md.) turnovers. The Greyhounds failed to capitalize off Crusader mistakes (0 points).
• The last time an opponent scored less than 30 points against the Crusaders was vs. Army on Jan. 20, 1996 (29 points).

 
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:

Postgame with Coach Candice and @megancahalan ???#GoCrossGo pic.twitter.com/S84l874YgU

— Holy Cross Women's Basketball (@HCrossWBB) January 25, 2025

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross travels to Boston University (7-12, 1-7 PL) for a Turnpike Trophy showdown on Monday, Jan. 27.
• Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. and the contest will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.
• Alumnae looking to attend the women's basketball 50th anniversary celebration can claim their two complimentary tickets for the Feb. 8 contest against Boston University.

 
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