Preview: Loyola Maryland Greyhounds at Holy Cross Crusaders WORCESTER, Mass. (Interstat) — A pivotal Patriot League women’s basketball matchup unfolds Saturday when the Holy Cross Crusaders host the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds at the Hart Recreation Center. Holy Cross (15-9 overall) enters with a stronger record and momentum from a 75-64 road victory at Colgate on Wednesday. The Crusaders have won five of their last seven contests, showcasing a balanced attack. A key player for Holy Cross is guard Kaitlyn Flanagan, who is coming off a 15-point performance against Colgate and has averaged 12.1 points over her last eight games. Her playmaking and scoring will be central to the Crusaders’ efforts. Loyola Maryland (11-13) arrives after snapping a two-game skid with a 65-58 home win over Lafayette on Wednesday. The Greyhounds have been inconsistent but have shown resilience in close games, with four of their last seven contests decided by five points or fewer. Their fortunes often hinge on the performance of forward Lex Therien. Therien is averaging 14.9 points over her last eight outings, including a 21-point effort in a win at Boston University last month. Support from Sydney Bass and Amandine Amorich, who combined for 26 points in the win over Lafayette, will be crucial. The game marks the first of a home-and-home series between the teams, who will meet again in Baltimore on Feb. 28. This stretch is critical for seeding in the upcoming Patriot League tournament, where Holy Cross currently sits in a more favorable position. Defensively, Holy Cross will aim to contain Therien in the paint, while Loyola must find an answer for Flanagan’s perimeter scoring and the Crusaders’ offensive depth, which saw Meg Cahalan and Simone Foreman also reach double figures in the win at Colgate. Tip-off is set for Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Worcester.