WORCESTER, Mass. (Interstat) — The Holy Cross women’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance to close its regular season, overwhelming Colgate 72-36 in a Patriot League matchup Monday night at the Hart Recreation Center.

The Crusaders, who finished the regular season with a 21-9 overall record, dominated from the opening tip, using a stifling defense and efficient offense to build a lead that was never challenged. The Raiders concluded their season at 7-23.

The most important part of the game was its decisive start, which set the tone for the lopsided affair. Holy Cross established control immediately, opening the game on a 13-2 run in the first five minutes. The surge was fueled by junior forward Meg Cahalan, who scored nine of her game-high 21 points during the opening quarter. Her early activity, including a steal and a transition three-pointer, ignited the Crusaders and put Colgate on its heels.

Colgate struggled to find any offensive rhythm against Holy Cross’s defensive pressure. The Raiders committed numerous turnovers, which the Crusaders converted into 21 points. Conversely, Colgate managed just a single point off Holy Cross miscues. The paint was also firmly controlled by the home team, which outscored Colgate 34-14 inside.

Holy Cross led 19-8 after the first quarter and extended the advantage to 36-18 by halftime. The Crusaders put the game completely out of reach with a 24-point third quarter, their highest-scoring period of the night, to lead 60-31 entering the final frame. Colgate’s offensive woes persisted, as they were held to just five points in the fourth quarter.

Cahalan, from Middletown, New Jersey, led all scorers with 21 points in just 23 minutes of action. She was complemented by a balanced Crusader attack. Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly of Manasquan, New Jersey, added 11 points and four assists, while Kendall Eddy of Haverhill, Massachusetts, contributed 10 points and three assists. Point guard Kaitlyn Flanagan facilitated the offense with six assists and added four points and two blocks.

Defensively, Holy Cross was anchored by Simone Foreman, who pulled down 10 defensive rebounds to go with her 10 points. The Crusaders’ team defense limited Colgate to its second-lowest scoring output of the season.

For Colgate, Madison Schiller of Wyckoff, New Jersey, played a team-high 38 minutes and led the Raiders with nine points. Grace Klag of Westfield, New Jersey, added eight points and two blocks. The Raiders shot poorly from the field throughout the contest and could not sustain any scoring runs to cut into the deficit.

The victory solidified Holy Cross’s position heading into the Patriot League tournament, showcasing a potent combination of defensive intensity and offensive execution. For Colgate, the loss capped a difficult season, highlighting the offensive challenges that plagued the team in many of its 23 defeats.

The game was the regular-season finale for both teams. Holy Cross will enter the upcoming Patriot League tournament as one of the top seeds, while Colgate’s season has concluded.