Holy Cross Athletics

CAREER HONORS:
2019-20 Varsity Club Samantha Vellaccio Award
2019 Turnpike Trophy MVP (1/19)
Patriot League Academic Honor Roll (2017-18, 2018-19)

AS A SENIOR IN 2019-20: 

• Started in all 30 games for Holy Cross.
• Averaged 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
• Led Patriot League with a .538 field goal percentage.
• Ranked second in Patriot League with 88 offensive rebounds and seventh in rebounding average.
• Recorded 21 points and 14 rebounds vs. Boston College (11/13).
• Notched a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds against Bryant (11/20).
• Had 20 points and 12 rebounds at Brown (12/1).
• Scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds against New Hampshire (12/22).
• Posted 20 points and 11 rebounds, including seven offensive boards, at Navy (1/4).
• Had 16 points and 16 rebounds against Lehigh (1/22).
• Recorded 18 points and 11 rebounds at Colgate (2/1).
• Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Chief of Staff.
• Earned Varsity Club's Samantha Vellaccio Award.
• Season concluded on March 12 due to COVID-19.

AS A JUNIOR IN 2018-19:

• Started 30 games and appeared in all of the Crusaders’ 31 contests.
• Averaged 10.2 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game.
• Had a .477 (135-for-283) field-goal percentage.  
• Chipped in 19 steals and 18 blocks.
• Tallied seven double-doubles on the year.
• Recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds in win at Vermont (11/28).
• Added a double-double with a career-high 19 points and 11 rebounds against Hofstra (12/5).
• Scored 13 points and grabbed 14 rebounds with two blocks vs. Colgate (1/3).
• Recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds against BU, earning Turnpike Trophy MVP honors (1/19).
• Scored 17 points with eight rebounds at Bucknell (1/26).
• Named to Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
• Member of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2017-18:

• Played in 28 games with four starts on the year.
• Averaged 3.6 points per game with 3.7 boards per contest.
• Registered 16 steals and 11 blocks.
• Shot 35.2 percent (43-for-122) from the field.
• Posted a season-high 15 points at Bucknell (2/17).
• Notched 12 points against Navy (1/11).
• Scored 10 points at Rhode Island (12/17).
• Added 10 rebounds while playing a season-high 27 minutes at Army West Point (1/17).
• Named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

AS A FRESHMAN IN 2016-17:

• Made 17 appearances before missing part of the season due to injury.
• Added 23 points with 36 rebounds on the year.
• Tallied five points with three rebounds against Manhattan (11/11).
• Notched five rebounds with two points against Bryant (11/14).
• Added a pair of blocks with three rebounds against Quinnipiac (11/16).
• Led the Crusaders with six rebounds against Vermont (11/30).
• Grabbed six rebounds while adding four points at American (1/22).

BEFORE HOLY CROSS:

• Played three seasons of varsity basketball at Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township, N.J. under head coach Steve Silver.
• Helped lead team to Bergen County Championship during 2013-2014 season.
• Also competed in three seasons of varsity tennis and varsity track & field at Immaculate Heart Academy.
• Played club basketball for the NJ Sparks under head coach Keith Gilchrist.
• Led club team to the USJN Nike National Championship in 2013.

PERSONAL:

• Daughter of Kevin and Pamela Swords.
• Has two brothers (Jack and Michael) and one sister (Grace).
• Father played rugby at Holy Cross (Class of 1982) and is in the Varsity Club Hall of Fame.
• Father also was a captain of the USA Eagles International Rugby Team and was inducted into the United States Rugby Federation Hall of Fame in 2014.
• Great Uncle Rev. Raymond J. Swords graduated from Holy Cross (Class of 1938) and served as the President of the College from 1960-1970.
• Great-Grandfather John G. O’Connor played football at Holy Cross (Class of 1918).
• Grandfather John P. Swords, graduated from Holy Cross (Class of 1943).
• Uncles Brian R. Swords (Class of 1974), John M. Swords (Class of 1976) and Brendan J. Swords (Class of 1983) all graduated from Holy Cross and played on rugby team.
• Cousin Tiarnan Doherty (Class of 2015), was on Holy Cross men’s rowing team.
• Cousins Kyleen and Bridget Swords and Caitlin and Alison Padick currently attend Holy Cross.
• Majoring in economics and political science.