WORCESTER, Mass. (Interstat) — The Massachusetts women’s basketball team remained undefeated Tuesday night, using a dominant second half to pull away from Holy Cross for a decisive 63-40 victory at the Hart Recreation Center.

In a game defined by defensive pressure and a decisive third-quarter surge, the Minutemen improved to 6-0 on the young season, while the Crusaders fell to 2-4.

A sluggish first half saw both teams struggle to find offensive rhythm. Massachusetts built a narrow 13-9 lead after the first quarter, but Holy Cross managed to keep the contest close, trailing just 25-22 at the intermission. The game’s complexion changed entirely after halftime, as the Minutemen erupted for 23 points in the third quarter while holding the Crusaders to just 11, effectively putting the game out of reach.

The Massachusetts offense was spearheaded by the backcourt duo of Yahmani McKayle and Megan Olbrys. McKayle, a guard from Queens, N.Y., led all scorers with 17 points and dished out a game-high five assists in 34 minutes of action. Olbrys, a forward from Norwood, Mass., provided a potent inside-outside threat, contributing 16 points and three assists.

Defensively, the Minutemen were relentless, forcing Holy Cross into 33 turnovers, which they converted into 28 points. Ayanna Franks was a catalyst in that effort, recording six steals to go with her six points. The Minutemen’s interior defense was anchored by Chinenye Odenigbo, who blocked two shots and altered several others.

Holy Cross was led by Meg Cahalan, who finished with 15 points. Brianna McDermott added six points and four assists for the Crusaders, but the team’s offensive struggles were evident as they shot just 29 percent from the field for the game.

The victory continues a strong start for Massachusetts, which has now won its first six games by an average of over 15 points. Their previous wins include a 61-52 triumph over Boston College and an 85-45 rout of UMass-Lowell. Holy Cross, meanwhile, has now lost three of its last four games following a season-opening upset of Boston College.

The Minutemen will look to continue their winning streak on the road against Northeastern on Dec. 3. Holy Cross returns to action at home against New Hampshire on Nov. 30.

The game was played before an announced attendance of 646. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Massachusetts entered the contest with a 54.30 percent probability to win.