The Holy Cross women's basketball team returns home to face American on Sunday, Jan. 5 with tip-off slated for 2 p.m. The contest will stream live on ESPN+.
 
Sunday is Youth Day in the Hart Center. The first 100 children 12 years or younger can head to the Holy Cross Ticket Office to receive a free voucher for a soft serve ice cream redeemable at Crucessions during the game. Fans can post a picture of the ice cream to their social media accounts tagging @hcrosswbb to receive a free ticket to the next home game. There will also be a postgame autograph session with the team.
 
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (8-4, 1-0 PL): 

• The Crusaders have won four straight games and five of their last six contests bettering Loyola (Md.) 49-46 in the Patriot League opener on Thursday. Junior guard Simone Foreman double-doubled for the second time this season and for the fifth time in her career with a game-high 14 points and a career-high matching 14 boards with six coming on the offensive end.
• Foreman is averaging 18.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 42.6 percent (29-of-68) from the floor during the four game winning streak.
• During the streak, the Crusaders have held opponents to 19.7 percent (15-of-76) efficiency from deep. They hold opponents to an average of 47.0 points per game and have a +15.3 scoring and +13.0 rebounding margin.
• Junior Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly has been a beast on the boards the last three games averaging 14.0 rebounds per game. For the week Dec. 16-Dec. 22, Donnelly ranked 16th in the nation in rebounds per game (14.5).
• Holy Cross is one of the most disciplined teams in the NCAA as they rank 20th in the nation in fouls per game (13.9) which is second in the Patriot League.
• The Crusaders have only had their shot blocked 20 times this season which ranks fifth fewest in the NCAA.
• Over the last three seasons, Holy Cross is 40-12 (.769) at home in the Hart Center Arena compared to 32-24 (.571) on the road.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES (0-12, 0-1 PL): 

• American is winless in 2024-25 and has lost 19 of their last 20 games dating back to last season. They started league action with a 66-59 setback to Navy on Thursday. Ellie Pingree scored 17 points with four boards in the setback.
• The Eagles are led by Cecilia Kay who is the team's leading scorer (9.4) and rebounder (6.5). Her 1.7 blocks per game is tied for second in the Patriot League.
• Laura Nogues is the top three-point threat for American as she ranks tied for seventh in the conference in three-pointers per game (1.7).
• American has one of the top perimeter defenses in the country as they are 10th in the NCAA in three-point percentage defense (24.0)., however, they rank 339th out of 353 programs in field goal percentage (34.6%).

LAST TIME THEY MET: 

• The Crusaders are 27-23 (.540) in the series history against the Eagles which began in 2000. Holy Cross is 16-9 (.667) against American at home.  
• In their last meeting on Feb. 10, 2024, American picked up a 74-68 win. Then-junior Lindsay Berger scored 12 points with three boards, a block and a steal in the setback.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross women's basketball team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossWBB | @goholycross
Instagram - @hcrosswbb | @goholycross
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YouTube - GoHolyCross