Inés Monteagudo-Pardo (CAS’27) drives for a layup over a Holy Cross defender. The Terriers fell 61-55 to the Crusaders Sunday. Photos by Mike Last

Varsity Sports

BU Women’s Basketball Falls in Patriot League Title Game for Second-Straight Year

小猎犬队以61比55输给卫冕冠军圣十字队

The BU women’s basketball Terriers’ dream of capturing their first Patriot League title was dashed Sunday when they fell to tournament top seed Holy Cross, 61-55, in the Patriot League championship at Worcester’s Hart Arena. It was the second year in a row the Terriers lost to the Crusaders in the title game. 

Despite shooting above 42 percent from the field and beyond the arc, the Terriers never once achieved a lead in Sunday’s title game. The Crusaders earned their conference-leading 13th Patriot League title, leaving BU still in search of its first. 

“We are disappointed in the outcome, but not the effort of the team,” head coach Melissa Graves said at a press conference following the game. “I don’t think we ever gave up, which we haven’t all year. We shot the ball at a really high clip, we fought the whole game.” 

The Terriers entered Sunday’s championship game seeking vindication after losing to the Crusaders 66-61 at home in the 2023 Patriot League tournament title a year ago. The Crusaders were the only team that beat the Terriers in conference play last season, ultimately beating them a second time to clinch their 12th Patriot League title, spoiling the Terriers’ best season in program history. 

This postseason, and away from the friendly confines of The Roof, at Case Gymnasium, where the Terriers went 15-2 this season, No. 3 BU upset second-seeded Colgate in Hamilton, N.Y., 52-40 on March 14, punching their ticket back to the Patriot League title match. Meeting twice already this season, BU and Holy Cross took turns winning games on their respective home courts—Holy Cross won at Hart Arena 61-50 on January 29, and BU triumphed in a rematch 66-63 on March 2. 

The first bucket of Sunday’s title rematch was scored by 2023 Tournament MVP and PL Scholar-Athlete of the Year Bronagh Power-Cassidy. The All-Patriot League First Teamer would score 9 of Holy Cross’ 15 points to go alongside three steals and two rebounds in the first quarter. Although trailing, BU ended the opening frame on a high note thanks to a buzzer-beater three by Aoibhe Gormley (CAS’27), closing the first quarter 15-10. 

BU’s reliance on three-point jumpers like Gormley’s have proven integral to pulling out a win. The Terriers led the Patriot League from deep this season, shooting 35.2 percent from three. Conversely, the Crusaders looked to make the battle beyond the arc difficult, posting a league-best 24.6 percent shooting percentage allowed to PL opponents. 

Come halftime, the Terriers established the long ball with limited success, shooting at a 30 percent clip, although they trailed the Crusaders 34-23 through two quarters. Entering the championship game averaging 19.1 points/game, Caitlin Weimar (CAS’24), 2024 Patriot League Player and Defensive Player of the Year, had just four points, but her eight rebounds at the half were good for the game lead. 

Refreshed after the half, the Terriers made a big stop on the Crusaders’ first possession, but could not stem the bleeding. Holy Cross jumped out to an 8-2 run to open the third quarter. A secondary focus for Graves was the Terriers’ early foul troubles—BU committed seven personal fouls to Holy Cross’ two in the opening half. 

Following a timeout, BU returned to the well, shooting threes alongside hard drives to the basket by Alex Giannaros (CAS’25), BU’s second All-Patriot League First Team selection alongside Weimar. By quarter’s end, the Terriers had cut the Crusaders lead to 10 points, trailing 46-36. 

Starting with possession in the final frame, Giannaros got the Terriers started with a layup, followed minutes later by a three-pointer. Yet the Crusaders continued to have the answer, keeping the Terriers at bay with points of their own. 

As Holy Cross lengthened their possessions to drain the game clock, BU’s frantic pace could not break the Crusaders’ control over the game. Their free throws off Terrier intentional fouls were too strong to supplant BU’s oft-quick-scoring attempts. Holy Cross shot 68 percent from the charity stripe Sunday. 

“I think what we are building here is really special, and being in this game two years in a row is a special thing,” Graves said. “Obviously, you want to come out with the win, but the expectation now is always to have the opportunity to win this, and that’s what we’re going to focus on moving forward.”