Photo of women's basketball senior Sophie Beneventine shooting a three-pointer.

Women’s Basketball Visits Holy Cross In Turnpike Trophy Tilt On Monday

January 28, 2024

BOSTON – In a rematch of the 2023 Patriot League Championship game, the Boston University women's basketball program takes on Holy Cross on Monday (Jan. 29) in the first installment of the Turnpike Trophy this season. Opening tip from the Hart Center Arena is set for 4 p.m.
 
Monday serves as the opener of a nationally-televised basketball doubleheader, with the BU men's basketball team facing the Crusaders at 7 p.m. Both games air on CBS Sports Network, which requires a subscription to the channel via cable or streaming provider.
 
BU (13-6, 5-3 PL) seeks its first road victory during conference play since Jan. 6, having lost three in a row away from Terrier Town. The Terriers also seek revenge against Holy Cross, the lone league team to defeat them twice in the 2022-23 campaign.
 
Holy Cross (13-6, 7-1 PL) enters the week first in the Patriot League standings, but recently suffered its first loss since Dec. 10. The Crusaders are undefeated at home this year with a 9-0 record, having not allowed foes to score 55 points in those contests.
 
TERRIER TIDBITS
  • BU completed the regular season sweep of Lafayette with a 51-39 victory on Saturday (Jan. 27) at Case Gym.
  • The Terriers broke a 14-14 deadlock with 6:58 left in the second quarter, holding the Leopards to just 25 points the rest of the way and 24.6 percent shooting for the entire game.
  • Senior Caitlin Weimar filled the stat sheet with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and career-highs of seven blocks and four steals.
  • Junior Alex Giannaros notched 10 points and three assists.
  • Saturday's win was BU's first against a Division I foes this year by more than 11 points.
  • BU's defense allowed under 40 points in a game for the first time since Dec. 30, 2022 at Navy.
  • This season, BU is 5-1 coming off a loss. BU has not lost more than two games in a row in 2023-24, and only sustained consecutive setbacks from Nov. 28-Dec. 5.
  • In addition to leading the Patriot League in each following category, Weimar is top-20 in the country in defensive rebounds per game (third – 8.3), double-doubles (fourth – 14), free throw attempts (seventh – 134), rebounds (12th – 208), rebounds per game (12th – 10.9), blocks per game (19th – 2.4), and blocks (20th – 45).
  • Giannaros and senior Sophie Beneventine are fourth and second, respectively, in the Patriot League in assist/turnover ratio.
  • BU and Holy Cross sported the most wins in the Patriot League last season with 24 each. Entering Monday's battle, both share the lead for the most wins this year with 13 each.
SCOUTING HOLY CROSS
  • The Crusaders recently dropped their first Patriot League contest at Lehigh on Jan. 27, 70-60.
  • Prior, Holy Cross won nine-straight games, including seven in a row to begin league action.
  • The Crusaders rank top 10 in the nation in scoring defense (fourth - 52.6 points allowed per game), field goal percentage defense (fifth - 34.1 percent), and three-point percentage defense (seventh - 24.9 percent).
  • Preseason All-Patriot League pick and 2023 Patriot League Tournament MVP Bronagh Power-Cassidy paces Holy Cross with 15.3 points per game, with Janelle Allen scoring 10.1 points per contest.
  • The Crusaders were picked first in the Patriot League preseason poll under fourth-year head coach Maureen Magarity.
  • Last year, en route to winning its first Patriot League title since 2007, Holy Cross went 24-9, including 13-5 in Patriot League play to reach the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a 15-seed, playing Maryland. 
SERIES HISTORY
  • Monday marks the 37th all-time meeting between BU and Holy Cross in a series that began in 1976.
  • The Crusaders sport a 22-14 advantage in the rivalry, having won four of the last six matchups.
  • BU is 6-11 on the road against Holy Cross, with its last win at the Hart Center Arena coming on Feb. 20, 2021.
  • The teams split the regular season series in 2022-23. BU picked up a 66-59 victory at The Roof on Feb. 15 thanks to 21 Crusader turnovers and a 36-18 edge in paint points. Holy Cross won 57-53 in Worcester on Mar. 1 to snap the Terriers' 17-game winning streak.
  • BU and Holy Cross faced off in front of over 1,300 fans at Case Gym in the 2023 Patriot League championship game on Mar. 12, where Holy Cross prevailed 66-61 despite the Terriers shortening a 22-point deficit to one possession in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
  • BU travels to Lehigh for matchup on Saturday (Feb. 3). Opening tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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