The Crusaders flew a relatively easy early schedule with wins over Brown and Northeastern and losses to Marquette, Boston College and Vermont. Coach Maureen Magarity gave the young players new roles. So sophomore Lindsay Berger and his freshman Kaitlyn Flanagan.
“I’m really happy. I think we’re really well balanced inside and out,” said Magarity.[We] I have a lot of different weapons. People are stepping up in different games and I think the younger players are getting more confident. I’m really excited about that too. ”
Magality has a low-scoring team averaging 58.5 points per game, slow paced and holding opponents to an average of 54.7 points.
If Holy Cross can hold up against some quality offense, they could clinch their first conference title since 2007. The Patriot League looks wide open, and defense is highly prized.
“I think in our league, we have to play defense because these teams can score at will,” Magariti said.
UMass (9-3)
Preseason favorites in the Atlantic 10 are must-see teams. The Minute Woman puts on an energetic offense that ranks ninth in the nation in points for paint (43.7) and his sixth in points for fast break (18.7).
Their three losses were against top 50 NET ranking opponents. Tennessee (22nd), Columbia (32nd) and Missouri (41st).
Star graduate student Sam Breen is averaging 18.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Senior Sydney his Taylor is averaging 17.3 points and his 3-pointer shooting percentage is 38.5%.
The top of the A-10 is crowded, but the road to the championship must go through Amherst.
Contenders
Boston University (5-6)
The Terriers boast the fourth-highest 3-point shooting percentage in the country (41.4) and moved the ball quite well despite missing starters Alex Giannaros and Kaitlyn Weimar for much of the season. They are the Patriots preseason favorites in his league for a reason, and they have the experience and depth to make it to a championship run.
However, BU has also lost four of its last five non-conference games and recorded 18 or more turnovers in three of those contests. Terriers need to build some consistency. It can start by establishing a stable and healthy rotation.
Harvard (7-5)
Harvard defeated BU to close out an up-and-down first half under new coach Carey Moore. Sophomore Harmoni his Turner stars as one of his six players to average 18 points, five rebounds and four assists or more in the country.
Columbia and Princeton are the Ivy League class so far, but Harvard has an outside shot in a championship upset.
Competitor
Boston University (11-4)
The Atlantic Coast Conference is too deep to predict a title shot for the young Eagles. But behind a defense looking for steals and transition opportunities, he made more noise than expected in his non-conference play. BC actually has him in two of his ACC contests, winning 1-1 against Georgia Tech and losing to Virginia Tech.
Center Maria Gakden helped BC have the eighth-highest offensive rebound percentage in the nation. That puts it to the test against big, strong ACC opponents.
Northeast (5-6)
Northeastern may be out of trouble, having won 3 of their last 4 games. Guards Derin Erdogan and Jemima Motema are trailing the Huskies with his 13.9 points per game, but the team will need to find scoring consistency behind them.
The Huskies won against BU, Harvard, Stonehill and Merrimac and lost narrowly to Holy Cross and BC. However, they only scored 59.2 points per game, placing him 12th among the 13 teams in the Colonial Athletic Association.
long shot
Stonehill (3-9), Merrimack (1-9), UMass Lowell (1-9)
There was only one team in the Northeast Conference, Fairleigh-Dickinson (7-4). NEC is a less stimulating area that includes Stonehill and Merrimack.
The Skyhawks competed in their first season as a Division 1 program. But they suffer his third lowest turnover rate in the country, simply lacking in depth and scale.
Meanwhile, the Merrimacks have the 10th-worst net rating in the nation and will need to find offensive help from redshirt senior forward Marissa Hamilton (17.6 points per game).
UMass Lowell is also located at the bottom of the eastern United States. The Hawks have scored 60 or more points once in 10 games, and he has not had a single double-digit scorer per game. If there’s a bright spot, it might be scoring leader Jaini Edmonds. She is a junior player knocking down her 39.5% of her 3-pointers.
