BOSTON – Aiming for its first Patriot League title in program history, the third-seeded Boston University women's basketball team takes on top-ranked Holy Cross in the Patriot League championship game on Sunday (Mar. 17). Opening tip from the Hart Center in Worcester, Mass. is set for 12 p.m.
 
BU (20-11) defeated No. 6 Army West Point and No. 2 Colgate to advance to its second-straight Patriot League championship, and third in four seasons. This will be the Terriers' first league championship contest on the road since becoming a member in 2013.
 
Holy Cross (19-12) dispatched No. 8 Bucknell and No. 4 Loyola Maryland at home, also reaching its second-consecutive title appearance. The Crusaders last hosted the championship in 2008.
 
Sunday's contest airs on the CBS Sports Network, with Jason Knapp, Leah Secondo, and Maria Trivelpiece on the call. Jack Hughes and Mason Jablonsky will provide an audio-only broadcast on GoTerriers.com.
 
TERRIER TIDBITS

• Overall, BU seeks its fourth conference championship in program history, having won in 1988, 1989, and 2003.
• The Terriers look to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003.
• No. 3 BU defeated second-seeded Colgate 52-40 in the semifinal round on Thursday (Mar. 14) in Hamilton, N.Y.
• The Terriers coaxed the Raiders into a season-low .203 field goal percentage, and led the game for over 38 minutes.
• Senior Caitlin Weimar posted 26 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks on 10-of-17 shooting. She scored 10 points in both the first and third quarters.
• Junior Alex Giannaros scored 11 of her 14 points in the second half, while adding four assists and four steals.
• Weimar, the Patriot League Player and Defensive Player of the Year, needs just 10 points to move into sole possession of 10th place on BU's all-time scoring list in just three seasons.
• As of Saturday (Mar. 16), she is the only Division I student-athlete averaging at least 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.
• Giannaros needs a trio of three-pointers to match Katie Nelson for seventh place in program history in career triples.
• Freshman Aoibhe Gormley is sporting a 3.12 assist/turnover ratio since Jan. 17.
• Classmate Audrey Ericksen is the lone Terrier to start all 31 games this season. She and senior Sophie Beneventine have started in all of their appearances this year.

SCOUTING HOLY CROSS

• The Crusaders advanced to their second-consecutive Patriot League championship game with a 69-64 win over No. 8 Bucknell in the quarterfinals and a 72-54 win against No. 4 Loyola Maryland in the semifinals.
• Four Crusaders are averaging double figures in this year's Patriot League Tournament, led by Bronagh Power-Cassidy's 17 points per game on 42.9 percent shooting.
• Power-Cassidy, a First Team All-Patriot League pick and the Scholar-Athlete of the Year, leads Holy Cross with 16.6 points per game this year.
• Janelle Allen and Cara McCormack were tabbed Third Team All-Patriot League.
• Holy Cross seeks its conference-leading 13th Patriot League championship in program history. The Crusaders last won consecutive titles from 1998-2001.

SERIES HISTORY

• Sunday marks the 39th all-time meeting between BU and Holy Cross in a series that began in 1976.
• The Crusaders sport a 23-15 edge in the rivalry.
• In the Patriot League Tournament, Holy Cross is 2-0, including a 66-61 triumph over the Terriers in the 2023 championship game.
• This season, both teams split the regular season series with home wins. the Crusaders captured a 61-50 triumph on Jan. 29, while BU was victorious on Mar. 2, 66-63, after overcoming a 21-point, first-half deficit.
• In those two games, Weimar averaged 19 points and 12.5 rebounds on 60 percent shooting. Giannaros averaged 14.5 points while making 44 percent of her shots.

LOOKING AHEAD

• The winner of Sunday's matchup captures the Patriot League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
• The Women's Basketball Selection Show airs on Sunday (Mar. 17) at 8 p.m. on ESPN.