Junior Claire Wheeler scored a career-high 15 points for the Crimson. Photo courtesy of Gil Talbot.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Freshman Victoria Lippert scored 24 points to lead the Harvard women's basketball team to a 72-56 win over Maine Tuesday night at Lavietes Pavilion. With the win, the Crimson improves to 2-0 on the season for the first time since 2004.

Lippert connected on 10-of-12 shots from the field and went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Junior co-captain Claire Wheeler scored  a career-high 15 points, while junior Jackie Alemany controlled the board with eight rebounds and sophomore Brogan Berry dished out a game-high nine assists, equaling her career high set during the first game of the season. Junior co-captain Christine Matera had nine points, all from beyond the arc for the second game in a row.

Lippert set the tone for the night scoring on her first attempts, a shot from beyond the arc from Berry. The Crimson opened up a 14-4 lead after four and a half minutes of play. Harvard extended its lead to 12 on two Wheeler free throws. The home team defense held the Black Bears scoreless for more almost four minutes and after 15 minutes of action led by 20 points. Maine cut the lead to 13 scoring the final four points of the half, giving the Crimson a 33-20 lead at the break.

Harvard was able to increase its advantage to 23 in the second session. Lipper t and Wheeler both scored 13 points during the second 20 minutes of play.

The Crimson shot 56.7 percent from the field in the second half for a 45.9 percent shooting effort in the game. Harvard shot 55.6 percent from downtown, draining 10 three-pointers in the game. Maine won the battle on the boards, outrebounding the Crimson, 44-33. Harvard handed out 17 assists, collected 11 steals and blocked four shots.

Harvard takes to the road for the first time this season Saturday, Nov. 21 at Sacred Heart. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. in Fairfield, Conn.