WORCESTER, Mass. (Interstat) — A Patriot League women’s basketball showdown with first-place implications is set for Saturday when the surging Army Black Knights visit the Holy Cross Crusaders at the Hart Recreation Center.

Army (16-4, 8-1 Patriot) enters riding a wave of momentum, having won eight of its last nine games. The Black Knights’ lone conference loss came on the road at Navy on Jan. 24. They most recently dispatched Lehigh 64-55 on Wednesday behind a 21-point performance from standout guard Camryn Tade.

Tade has been the engine for Army’s success, averaging 17.1 points per game in her last eight contests. She erupted for 26 points against Loyola Maryland on Jan. 7 and scored 20 or more in three of those outings. In the teams’ first meeting this season, a 61-46 Army win at West Point on Jan. 14, Tade contributed six points and three assists.

Holy Cross (12-8, 6-3) looks to protect its home court and close the gap in the standings. The Crusaders have won three of their last four, including a 60-50 overtime victory over Colgate on Wednesday. Guard Kaitlyn Flanagan led the way in that win with 17 points. She has been a consistent facilitator, recording five or more assists in four of the last eight games.

The Crusaders will need a more efficient offensive performance to reverse the result from earlier this month, where they were held to 46 points on 30.2% shooting from the field. Containing Tade and finding scoring beyond Flanagan will be critical.

With Army holding a narrow one-game lead over second-place Navy in the loss column, and Holy Cross among a group of teams jostling for position behind them, Saturday’s contest carries significant weight for the Patriot League tournament seeding. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST.