'It’s not something that intimidates us': Holy Cross women's basketball team ready for big stage
Holy Cross women's basketball seniors have shown they are comfortable on the big stage and prepared for the NCAA Tournament against No. 2 Michigan.
WORCESTER – In 2023, Holy Cross’ four seniors, Meg Cahalan, Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly, Kaitlyn Flanagan and Simone Foreman, were freshmen on HC’s first NCAA Tournament team in 16 years. The Crusaders, a 15 seed, played at heavily favored No. 2 seed Maryland.
“That was the first ‘big team’ I ever played,” Flanagan, HC’s four-year starting point guard, said, “and it was a shock to the system, and that’s an understatement. ” The Terrapins jumped to a 23-4 lead after one and cruised to a 93-61 victory. “But having that,” Flanagan said, “prepared us for the next year.
” More: Holy Cross women's basketball seniors make history with third NCAA trip Holy Cross repeated as Patriot League champion and after ousting Tennessee-Martin in an NCAA First Four game, took on Iowa in the Hawkeyes’ sold-out home gym at the height of the Caitlin Clark craze. The Crusaders hung tough with Iowa and Clark and trailed by just two points after the first quarter before falling, 91-65 . Similarly, during the last two regular seasons, Holy Cross matched mighty UConn and Duke in the early minutes of 36- and 43-point losses.
“The more of those kinds of games you have under your belt, regardless of the outcome,” Flanagan said, “you feel more prepared the moment you step on the court. ” HC, which captured its 14 th Patriot League championship when it defeated Lehigh, 77-70 , in the final, earned a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament and will play at No.