The No. 15 seed Holy Cross women's basketball team was defeated by No. 2 Michigan, 83-48, in the First Round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, ending their season. Senior Kaitlyn Flanagan led the Crusaders with 11 points while Michigan's Mila Holloway scored 20 points, propelling the Wolverines to advance in the tournament. Holy Cross concluded their season with a 23-10 record, showcasing strong performances in prior games. Despite a late-game surge, the Crusaders couldn't recover from an early deficit that grew as large as 24 points.

By the Numbers
  • Holy Cross finished their season with a 23-10 overall record.
  • Michigan improved to 26-6 with the victory.
Yes, But

While Holy Cross demonstrated resilience with key contributions from seniors throughout the season, they struggled to contain Michigan's offense and failed to make a comeback during critical moments of the game.

State of Play
  • Michigan opened the game with an 8-0 run, maintaining control throughout.
  • Holy Cross's struggles were evident with a scoring drought that allowed Michigan to stretch their lead significantly.
What's Next

Michigan will face the winner of the matchup between No. 7 seed NC State and No. 10 Tennessee in the Round of 32, while Holy Cross will begin to prepare for next season, focusing on player development and recruitment.

Bottom Line

Holy Cross leaves behind a legacy of achievement with three NCAA Tournament appearances and a strong senior class that has set records and elevated the program during their tenure.