Boston University (14-17-3) vs. Holy Cross (7-23-3)
Wednesday, Feb. 28
Walter Brown Arena - 6 p.m. - NESN & ESPN+

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BOSTON - The 2024 Hockey East women's tournament will get underway on Wednesday (Feb. 28) as seventh-seeded Boston University hosts No. 10-seed Holy Cross in the opening round at Walter Brown Arena. The game will be be televised on NESN and ESPN+, will start at 6 p.m.

If BU wins, the Terriers would visit second-seeded Northeastern in the quarterfinals on Saturday (March 2). The Terriers have lost four of their past five meetings with the Crusaders, including both ends of a home-and-home weekend last month.

A Turnpike Trophy point is on the line Wednesday and this year's multi-sport battle is currently tied, 5-5. The men's and women's basketball teams will also meet on Saturday at Case Gym.
 

IN THE TOURNAMENT

• BU has the second-most Hockey East tournament titles with five and has a 25-15 all-time record in the league playoffs.
• The Terriers are in search of their 12th Hockey East semifinal appearance and are looking to snap a six-game losing skid in the playoffs.
• BU is in the opening round for the second consecutive year as it dropped a 5-4 overtime game to Merrimack last season.
   

TERRIER TIDBITS

• BU closed out the regular season with a pair of shutout losses to regular-season champion UConn.
• The 11th-ranked Huskies earned a 4-0 win at Walter Brown on Friday before posting a 1-0 win in Storrs.
• The Terriers are averaging 5.7 shots more per game than their opponents this season. At this time last year, BU had a minus-8.0 shot differential, resulting in a plus-13.7 swing one year later.
• Senior Lacey Martin leads the team in both goals (14) and points (27).
• Linemates sophomore Clara Yuhn (9g, 13a) and senior Catherine Foulem (11g, 11a) have each recorded 18 points this season.
• Graduate student Nadia Mattii (3g, 14a) and sophomore Sydney Healey (7g, 7a) have added 17 and 14 points, respectively.
• Graduate student Alexa Matses (5-7-1, 2.54, .898) and freshman Mari Pietersen (5-2-1, 2.85, .864) shared time in goal for the first three months of the season but junior Callie Shanahan (4-7-1, 2.03, .920) returned from injury in January and has started in 10 of the past 15 games and has two shutouts in her past six starts.
• Led by Mattivi and senior Tamara Giaquinto (4g, 9a), BU had four of the top 20 defenders in points scored during Hockey East play this season.
• The Terriers are first in Hockey East in penalty kill at 91.1%, which is third in the nation.
• The Terriers are second in the league in faceoff percentage at 52.5%, which ranks 14th in the country.
• BU, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Penn State are the only four teams in the nation to have five defenders with at least nine points apiece.

SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS

• Holy Cross is 2-15-1 since the start of December with both wins coming against BU.
• The Crusaders closed the regular season with a pair of home losses to Maine as the Black Bears earned a 3-2 home win on Friday before closing out with a 5-2 victory.
• Senior Millie Sirum (11g, 10a) and sophomore Alexia Moreau (9g, 10a) lead the team with 21 and 19 points, respectively.
• Senior Madison Beck has started the majority of contests for the Crusaders, posting a .908 save percentage and a 2.77 goals against average.

SERIES HISTORY VS. HOLY CROSS

• The Terriers are 10-5-0 all-time against Holy Cross, including a 6-1-0 record at Walter Brown Arena.
• This will be their first postseason meeting.