No. 2 Holy Cross Defeats No. 4 Lehigh in 2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Championship Game

Crusaders earn third Patriot League Championship in four years; Flanagan claims Patriot League Championship MVP Honors
The Holy Cross Crusaders claimed their 14th Patriot League Women’s Basketball title, marking their third in four years after defeating the Mountain Hawks, 77-70, on Sunday afternoon.
Holy Cross senior guard Kaitlyn Flanagan (5'8''-G) paced the Crusaders with 16 points and nine assists to earn Patriot League Championship MVP honors. All five Holy Cross starters scored in double figures, with senior forward Meg Cahalan also scoring 16 points to join Flanagan on the All-Tournament Team.
Lehigh sophomore forward Belle Bramer (6'1''-G) led the Mountain Hawks with 24 points, connecting on three 3-pointers. First-year forward Leia Edwards (6'0''-G-2006) recorded her second consecutive double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, as Bramer and Edwards earned All-Tournament Team selections.
Navy junior guard Zanai Barnett-Gay (5'8''-G) earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team after averaging 23.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game in two games for the top-seeded Mids.

The Holy Cross Crusaders defeated Lehigh, 77-70, to earn the 2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women’s Basketball Championship title.
The teams traded baskets early in the first quarter, as a midrange jumper from senior guard Kaitlyn Flanagan gave the Crusaders an 8-6 lead with five minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
Holy Cross extended its advantage to 17-11 after closing the first quarter on an 8-2 run, fueled by 10 offensive rebounds in the period.
The Crusaders remained efficient in the second quarter, opening on a 6-0 run to build a 23-11 lead with seven minutes remaining in the half.
After trailing 32-20, the Mountain Hawks closed the first half on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 32-27 at halftime.
Lehigh carried the momentum into the third quarter, taking its first lead since the opening minutes at 35-34 with seven minutes remaining.
Holy Cross immediately responded, regaining a 40-35 lead after senior forward Meg Cahalan converted an and-one opportunity and Flanagan finished a contested fast-break layup.
The Crusaders continued to control the tempo, but Lehigh first-year forward Leia Edwards hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to trim the deficit to 54-48 at the end of the third quarter.
Holy Cross pushed its lead to 65-56 with five minutes remaining, following back-to-back baskets and key defensive stops.
After a two-minute scoring drought, senior forward Simone Foreman ended the run with a contested driving layup to give the Crusaders a 67-56 lead with 2:11 remaining.
The Crusaders converted their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory and secure their third Patriot League title in four years.
Flanagan led the Crusader offense with 16 points and nine assists, while Foreman added 16 points. Cahalan scored 16 points, senior forward Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly (5'11''-G) netted 12 points and junior guard Kendall Eddy (5'7''-G) contributed 10 points.
Sophomore forward Belle Bramer led the Mountain Hawks with 24 points, while first-year forward Leia Edwards notched another double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Final:
Holy Cross - Lehigh 77-70

Semis:
Navy - Lehigh 76-81, OT
Holy Cross - Army West Point 61-55

Courtesy of patriotleague.org