2025-26 Holy Cross women’s basketball season preview

Heading into its second year under head coach Candice Green, the Holy Cross women’s basketball team will look to be a top contender in the conference and reclaim the Patriot League title. The Crusaders concluded the 2024-25 season in fifth place with a 19-12, 11-7 record. Holy Cross was ranked first in the conference for assists per game (15.0), second in rebounds per game (35.2) and fourth in blocked shots per game (3.2). Four starters return from that squad, along with six other letterwinners.

QUEST BACK TO THE CROWN

The Crusaders are scheduled to feature 29 regular-season contests, including 14 matchups in the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex.

The Crusaders' non-conference schedule is highlighted by a showdown at 20-time ACC champion Duke in the first matchup with the Blue Devils since March 18, 2007. Holy Cross will also host the 2025 America East Tournament Champion, Vermont, in the Hart Center Arena on Dec. 16.

The 13-time Patriot League champion Crusaders start conference play on Dec. 31 at Bucknell. Holy Cross will have a home-and-away series versus each of the other nine teams in the conference, featuring a men's and women's doubleheader against Boston University (Feb. 2) at home in Hart Center Arena.

COMMANDING THE COURT

Seniors Kaitlyn Flanagan and Meg Cahalan have been tapped to lead the charge for the 2025-26 season.

Flanagan, a guard, was selected to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team ahead of this season's action. Last year, she started all 31 games in her junior year and led the Patriot League in assists (160, 5.2 per game) and had the most minutes of any Crusader (1,004). She averaged 9.7 points per game while also totaling 33 steals, 67 rebounds and 20 blocks. Her efforts earned her a spot on the 2024-25 All-Patriot League Second Team.

Cahalan, a forward, had a breakout season during the 2024-25 campaign, starting in all 31 games on the year. She led the team and ranked sixth in the conference in blocks (26) and was second on the squad, 16th in the league, in points, averaging 10.5 points per game. Cahalan also had the second-most three-pointers made (42) of any Crusader and was ranked 15th in the Patriot League for three-pointers made per game (1.4). She was named the 2025 Rev. George L. O’Brien Award recipient as MVP of the Winter Homecoming game.

RETURNING TO THE HARDWOOD

Seniors Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly and Simone Foreman should play key roles for the Crusaders heading into the 2025-26 campaign. Donnelly started 31 times during last season’s action and averaged 6.7 points, 6.9 rebounds per game, as well as led the team with a .391 three-point percentage. Foreman returns to the floor after starting in 14 games and leading the squad in free-throw percentage (.853) and averaging points (13.9) and rebounds (7.6) per game. She was second in the Patriot League for her free-throw percentage and placed fifth in the league for points and rebounds per game as well as field goal percentage (.414).

Juniors Kendall Eddy, Janie Bachmann, Simone Lewis and Hannah Griffin look to contend for starting spots or play key roles for the Crusaders. Eddy played in 30 of the 31 games last year while starting in eight. She averaged 7.1 points, 1.2 steals and 1.7 assists per contest, and ranked 13th in the Patriot League in steals. Bachmann and Griffin both saw action in 20 games, while Lewis made 11 appearances for the Crusaders in 2024-25.

Sophomore Stella Gougoufkas and Gracynn Gough will also be in the mix for increased playing time and provide added depth.

NEXT GEN

Fans will see five freshmen join the Crusaders this year and will look to make an immediate impact. 

Guard/forward Kimora Berry journeys to The Hill from Buffalo, N.Y., where she was a two-time team captain for Williamsville South and named to the Section VI Team in 2023-2024 while averaging 22.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Forward/center Mackenzie Teevan served as a team captain, was named to the First and Second All-Shore and All-Division teams, and helped Holmdel High School to three A-Costal Public Division Championships.

Guard Asia Wilson joins the Crusaders from Bishop Kearney in Rochester, N.Y., where she was a team captain, 2024 Private Parochial Player of the Year, 2024 Democrat & Chronicle All-Greater Rochester First Team All-Star and helped her team to the 2022 New York State Championship. Guard Brianna McDermott hails from Yonkers, N.Y., where she previously was a three-time team captain, earned FAA First Team honors all four years and was named a NEPSAC All-Star while attending Greenwich Country Day. Guard Megan Roche comes to Worcester from Millis, Mass., where she was a two-time team captain, a 2023-24 NEPSAC Honorable Mention and helped her Dexter Southfield to the 2022-23 AA Finals.

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