Syracuse Knocks Women’s Basketball From the WNIT

Brogan Berry finished the season second on the season assist list with 169 (photo courtesy of Gil Talbot).

SRYACUSE, N.Y. – The Harvard women’s basketball team suffered an 87-68 loss Thursday night in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament at the Manley Field House.

Sophomore Brogan Berry led four Crimson players in double figures as she scored 15 points on the night on 6-for-10 shooting, including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. Freshman Victoria Lippert added 13 points and junior co-captain Christine Matera tallied 12 points. Junior Emma Markley scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds.

The home team jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead to start the game, but Lippert got the Crimson on the board with a three from the right side. Syracuse’s Tasha Harris responded for the Orange with a trey of her own to regain a five point lead. Lippert hit another three and Markley added two more to cut the Syracuse lead to just two at the 16:26 mark of the first half.

Syracuse scored 11 unanswered points from the field over the next four minutes to increase their lead to 13 (23-10) before junior Jackie Alemany grabbed a rebound and laid it in for two points to halt the Orange run.

Matera scored her first points of the game on a three at the 6:39 mark to get the Crimson within 15. Syracuse responded and continually increased their lead as the half progressed.

Harvard trailed 55- 30 going into the locker room at the half.

Out of the break the teams traded points until a jumper from Markley sparked a 15-2 run in the middle of the second to cut into the Syracuse lead. In the final 12:19 of the game, Harvard outscored Syracuse 30-16.

Elle Hagedorn grabbed four rebounds in the game, all coming in the second half.