2026-27 Holy Cross women's basketball season preview

After claiming its third Patriot League in four years this past March, the Holy Cross women’s basketball team opens the 2026-27 campaign looking to continue its excellence on the court. Heading into its third year under head coach Candice Green, the Crusaders are picked fourth in the Patriot League’s annual preseason poll. Holy Cross concluded the 2025-26 season with a 23-10 overall record and a 14-4 mark in conference play, finishing second in the league’s regular season standings.

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Kat Fogarty, who is entering her seventh season on The Hill has been promoted to associate head coach. In her tenure she has helped lead the Crusaders to 114 wins, two Patriot League regular season titles, three Patriot League Tournament Championships and an NCAA Tournament victory.

Assistant coach Nick Dicciani comes to Worcester after spending the 2025-26 season as a coaching associate at Villanova University. During his time with the Wildcats, Dicciani coordinated player development and assisted with game-day scouting, helping Villanova post a 23-6 regular-season record and earn an NCAA Tournament berth.

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 will once again open their season against Boston College on Nov. 2, after defeating the Eagles last season on a last-second contested layup by 2026 graduate Simone Foreman. Holy Cross will then play three straight Ivy League opponents, hosting Dartmouth (Nov. 5) and Harvard (Nov. 9), before traveling to Brown (Nov. 12). Other high-profile games in the non-conference slate includes 2026 First Four participant Richmond on Nov. 22, marking the first matchup against the Spiders since 1997. Holy Cross will then host Western Kentucky at the Hart Center on Dec. 16 for their first matchup in program history. The Crusaders will close out non-conference play with the Hawk Classic in Philadelphia, Pa, hosted by Saint Joseph’s. Holy Cross will face off against the Hawks on Dec. 20 before playing either Liberty or Washington State on Dec. 21.  

The 14-time Patriot League champion Crusaders start conference play on Dec. 30 at Army West Point. Holy Cross will have a regular season home-and-away series versus each of the other nine teams in the conference. The Patriot League Tournament begins with the First Round on March 1 and culminates with the Championship Game on March 9.

COMMANDING THE COURT

Coach Green has selected seniors Kendall Eddy, Janie Bachmann, Hannah Griffin and Simone Lewis as first-time captains to lead the defending Patriot League champion Crusaders this season. 

Eddy made 30 starts in 33 appearances last season, averaging 7.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. She earned Patriot League All-Defensive Team honors after ranking second in the league with 70 steals.

Bachmann appeared in all 33 contests last year, making three starts. She averaged 5.7 points and 3.4 boards in 16.7 minutes per game. She also recorded 26 steals and 22 blocks, with four double-figure scoring efforts and nine games with five or more rebounds.

Griffin appeared in all 33 games last season, making three starts. She averaged 3.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists across 21.1 minutes per game, providing valuable depth in the Crusaders’ backcourt.

Lewis has played in 42 games during her time on The Hill, including 22 appearances a season ago. She tallied 30 total points and 33 rebounds, bringing valued size to the Crusaders’ rotation.

FAMILIAR FACES

The departure of last year’s senior class will also create additional opportunities for returning players to take on expanded roles this season.

Sophomore guard Brianna McDermott saw early success in her first collegiate season. She recorded a career-high seven points against the No. 7 Duke Blue Devils on Nov. 9, posted five points at Marist on Nov. 16 and recorded six points and four rebounds against UMass on Nov. 25.

Sophomore forward Mackenzie Teevan will look to provide depth in the frontcourt during her second season on The Hill. She appeared in nine games last season, scoring in three contests, including the NCAA Tournament First Round.

Junior guard Stella Goguoufkas and forward Gracynn Gough both missed time last season due to injury, while sophomore guard Megan Roche appeared in nine games, totaling 25 minutes of action.

PORTAL MOVES

Fans will see two transfers join the Crusaders, looking to make an immediate impact. 

Junior forward Emma Lizotte comes to Worcester after spending her first two seasons at Quinnipiac University. During her time with the Bobcats, she appeared in 30 games off the bench, averaging 2.0 points and 2.3 rebounds while ranking second on the team with eight blocks. Last season, Lizotte tallied a career high 10 points and collected seven rebounds for Quinnipiac in its victory against Canisius (Feb. 28). Lizotte hails from Saco, Maine, playing for Thornton Academy.

Sophomore guard Colleen Phiri arrives on The Hill after playing her freshman season at George Washington University. During her lone season with the Revolutionaries she appeared in 29 games, making four starts. Phiri posted six games in double figures including a career-high 18 points in her collegiate debut vs UDC on Nov. 3, 2025.

NEW TO THE WOO

The Crusaders will also have three freshmen join the fold this fall. Forward Abigail Casper journeys to The Hill from Cromwell, Conn. where she played four seasons of varsity basketball at Northwest Catholic High School. She served as a team captain during her junior and senior years and led the team to three State Championship victories (Class L in 2024-25, Class MM in 2023-24 and Class S in 2022-23).

Guard Camden Epstein played four seasons of varsity basketball at Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, N.J., under head coach Sandra Gordon. She served as a team captain during her junior and senior years. Epstein was a three-time First Team All-League selection (2023-25), 2025 First Team All-County and hit the 1000 point milestone in the 2024-25 season. During her senior year she posted 551pts, 123 reb, 74 ast, 15 blocks, and 49 steals. Epstein also played basketball for the Jersey Gemz EYBL club team under head coach Audrey Taylor. In 2023, she helped the Jersey Gemz win the Nike National Championship.

Guard Maddie Provost played four seasons of varsity basketball at Lawrence High School in Fairfield, Maine, under head coach Greg Chesley. She served as a team captain during her senior year and helped her team to the 2023-24 Class A State Championship. She is a two-time All-Conference choice (First Team 2023-25, Second Team 2022-23), two-time All-State Team selection (2023-25) and the 2023-24 KVAC Player of the Year. Provost holds the Lawrence school record in most single-game points (37), most single-season points (440 in 2024-25) and most three-pointers made in a quarter (6 in 2024-25) while being only the sixth 1000th point scorer in Lawrence school history.

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