WORCESTER, Mass. (Interstat) — The Holy Cross women’s basketball team used a dominant third quarter to pull away from Bucknell for a 63-41 victory Saturday at Hart Recreation Center. The Crusaders, now 18-9, broke open a close game by outscoring the Bison 21-6 in the third period. Holy Cross was efficient, shooting 43% from the field and making 12 of 13 free throws. Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly led the Crusaders with 14 points and seven rebounds. Kaitlyn Flanagan added 12 points and six assists, while Simone Foreman and Meg Cahalan each scored 12. Bucknell, which fell to 9-17, shot just 38% and was hampered by 14 turnovers. Reese Zemitis led the Bison with nine points. Holy Cross swept the regular-season series, having also won on Dec. 31.

WORCESTER, Mass. (Interstat) — The Holy Cross women’s basketball team used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from Bucknell and secure a 63-41 victory in a Patriot League contest Saturday at the Hart Recreation Center. The Crusaders, improving to 18-9 overall, broke open a competitive game by outscoring the Bison 21-6 in the pivotal third period. That stretch transformed a 29-22 halftime lead into a commanding 50-28 advantage entering the final quarter, effectively sealing the outcome. Holy Cross was led by a balanced and efficient offensive attack. Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly, a 6-foot sophomore from Manasquan, New Jersey, scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Guards Kaitlyn Flanagan of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, and Simone Foreman of Odenton, Maryland, each added 12 points. Flanagan dished out six assists, while Foreman contributed four rebounds and two assists. Meg Cahalan, a 6-2 sophomore from Middletown, New Jersey, provided a significant spark off the bench with 13 points and three rebounds. The Bison, who fell to 9-17, were paced by Reese Zemitis. The junior from Langhorne, Pennsylvania, logged a team-high 36 minutes and finished with nine points, five rebounds and three assists. Mariah Hardy of Baltimore added seven points. The game’s decisive stretch began immediately after halftime. Leading 29-22, Holy Cross opened the third quarter with a 12-2 run over the first four minutes. The burst included a layup and a 3-pointer from Flanagan, a driving layup by Foreman and a 3-pointer from Cahalan, pushing the lead to 41-26 and forcing a Bucknell timeout. The Crusaders’ defense fueled the offense throughout the quarter, generating turnovers and converting them into easy baskets. Holy Cross finished the game with 10 steals and scored 19 points off 14 Bucknell turnovers. Meanwhile, the Bison managed only six points in the quarter on 2-of-12 shooting from the field and committed five turnovers. Holy Cross controlled the game statistically across the board. The Crusaders shot 43% from the field compared to Bucknell’s 38%. A major disparity came at the free-throw line, where Holy Cross converted 12 of 13 attempts while Bucknell made just 3 of 7. The Crusaders also won the battle on the glass, securing seven offensive rebounds to Bucknell’s two, leading to a 24-14 advantage in points in the paint. The first half was a more contested affair. Bucknell stayed within striking distance despite offensive struggles, trailing just 15-8 after one quarter and 29-22 at the break. The Bison were hampered by cold shooting, particularly from beyond the arc where they finished 4 of 17. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Holy Cross, which also defeated Bucknell 58-55 on Dec. 31. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Holy Cross entered the game with an 89.30 percent probability to win. Holy Cross, solidifying its position in the upper tier of the Patriot League, travels to face Loyola Maryland next Saturday. Bucknell, seeking to end a challenging season on a positive note, returns home to host Lehigh next Saturday.

WORCESTER, Mass. (Interstat) — A surging Holy Cross looks to solidify its Patriot League standing when it hosts a Bucknell team seeking momentum Saturday at the Hart Recreation Center. The Crusaders (17-9) enter the women’s basketball matchup having won seven of their last eight games, including a 53-44 victory at Lafayette on Wednesday. They sit near the top of the conference with a potent offense led by guard Meg Cahalan. Cahalan is averaging 17.1 points over her last eight contests, including a 29-minute, 15-point performance with three assists and two blocks in the win over Lafayette. Bucknell (9-16) snapped a two-game skid with a 58-45 road win at American on Wednesday. The Bison have relied heavily on the scoring of guard Tuana Coskun, who poured in 19 points in that victory. Coskun has been a consistent offensive force, scoring in double figures in six of her last eight games and averaging 14.3 points per contest in that stretch. Holy Cross won the season’s first meeting, 58-55, at Bucknell on Dec. 31. The Crusaders’ defense, which has held opponents under 50 points in three of its last five games, will aim to contain Coskun and replicate that result. The Bison have struggled on the road this season, while Holy Cross has been strong at home. A Crusaders victory would enhance their seeding prospects for the upcoming Patriot League tournament, while Bucknell aims to play spoiler and build late-season confidence. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon. Holy Cross visits Loyola Maryland next on Feb. 28, while Bucknell hosts Lehigh the same day.