HAMILTON, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Holy Cross women’s basketball team used a dominant defensive start and a balanced scoring attack to secure a 75-64 victory over Colgate in a Patriot League matchup Wednesday night at Cotterell Court.

The Crusaders, now 15-9 overall, built a commanding early lead by holding the Raiders to just 10 points in each of the first two quarters. Holy Cross led 17-10 after one period and extended the advantage to 31-20 by halftime, capitalizing on a Colgate offense that struggled with turnovers and inefficient shooting.

The most important part of the game was Holy Cross’s immediate and sustained defensive pressure in the first half. The Crusaders forced 11 Colgate turnovers before the break, converting those mistakes into 13 points. Colgate, which fell to 6-17, managed only 10 field goal attempts in the first quarter and shot 30 percent from the floor in the opening half. This early cushion proved critical as the Raiders mounted several challenges after halftime but could never fully close the gap.

Colgate showed signs of life in the third quarter, outscoring Holy Cross 18-19 behind the play of Madison Schiller. The guard from Wyckoff, New Jersey, scored 10 of her game-high 18 points in the period and finished with five assists. Her efforts helped trim the deficit to 50-38 heading into the final frame.

The Raiders’ surge continued early in the fourth, using a 10-2 run to pull within 52-48 with 7:51 remaining. Amarah Streiff of Syracuse, New York, keyed the run with a three-pointer, part of her nine-point night.

Holy Cross responded with composure, methodically rebuilding its lead. A driving layup by Kaitlyn Flanagan of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, halted the Colgate run, and the Crusaders proceeded to score on their next five possessions. A critical sequence saw Flanagan convert a pair of free throws, followed by a steal and layup from Simone Foreman of Odenton, Maryland, pushing the lead back to 65-53 with 2:22 left, effectively sealing the game.

Flanagan led a quartet of double-figure scorers for Holy Cross with 15 points, adding a block and three steals. Meg Cahalan of Middletown, New Jersey, contributed 14 points, while Foreman finished with 12. Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly of Manasquan, New Jersey, posted a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Beyond the scoring, Holy Cross excelled in areas that underscored their control. They outscored Colgate 36-22 in the paint and 21-4 off turnovers. The Crusaders also attempted 22 free throws, making 17, compared to just three attempts for the Raiders, all of which were made.

For Colgate, Tatiana Matthews of Dunnellon, Florida, provided a spark off the bench with 13 points. The Raiders shot a respectable 44 percent from three-point range but were hampered by 17 turnovers and an inability to consistently generate high-percentage shots inside.

Holy Cross, which defeated Colgate in overtime just two weeks prior, has now won three of its last four games. The Crusaders will host Loyola Maryland on Saturday. Colgate, which has lost three straight, travels to face Navy on Saturday.