The Crimson is set to host Penn and Princeton and will look
to join the Tigers atop the Ivy League standings (Ron
Feltman).
The Storyline
The Harvard women's basketball team will ride a three-game winning
streak into play this weekend when it hosts Penn and Princeton at
Lavietes Pavilion. The Crimson will first face the Quakers on
Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. before battling Princeton on Saturday,
Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. with first place in the Ivy League standings on
the line.
A live video stream will be available for both games through
GoCrimson.com with play-by-play man Greg Kadetsky on the call. Live
stats will also be available through GoCrimson.com.
What's At Stake
Harvard enters the weekend in second place of the Ivy League
standings with a 4-1 conference record while Princeton carries an
unblemished 5-0 mark into play. The Tigers are the two-time
defending Ivy League champions, having won the 2009-10 and 2010-11
titles with a combined 27-1 record. Harvard won its last Ancient
Eight crown in 2007-08 with an 11-3 mark, the 11th in program
history.
Play for Kay
Lavietes Pavilion will be converted into a "Pink Zone" for
Saturday's game against Princeton as Harvard women's basketball
teams up with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to
raise funds and awareness for breast cancer in honor of the Kay Yow
fund and the "Play for Kay" initiative.
Fans at the game will have many opportunities to get involved with
the fight against breast cancer. Pink Zone t-shirts will be sold
for $5 with all proceeds benefiting the Kay Yow fund, and three
t-shirts will be thrown into the crowd after each three-point field
goal made by the Crimson. Fans can also contribute by buying a $1
ball to take part in the Cambridge Trust Bounce 4 Bucks and by
purchasing raffle tickets for a chance to win a signed pink
basketball.
Youth tickets will remain free for the 6 p.m. contest, as they
are for all Harvard women's basketball home games, and free
admission is offered to all fans wearing pink. To learn more, click here.
Join the Club
Junior Victoria Lippert
has scored 997 career points and is set to become the 16th member
of Harvard's 1,000 point club. Lippert has averaged 13.1 ppg in 76
career appearances for the Crimson, making 380 field goals, 124
three-pointers and 113 free throws. A two-time All-Ivy League
second team selection, Lippert will join teammate Brogan Berry as one
of only six Crimson in program history to eclipse the 1,000 point
plateau as a junior.
Berry and Emma Markley '11 both joined the club last year,
becoming the second duo in program history to reach the 1,000 point
plateau in the same season after Erin Maher '93 and Deb
Flandermeyer '93 did so during the 1992-93 campaign. Christine Clark
is on pace to become the next Crimson student-athlete to surpass
1,000 points, as she has scored 640 points through 47 career
games.
300
Harvard has won 299 games in the Ivy League and is seeking to
become just the second program behind Dartmouth to reach 300. The
Crimson has won 278 of those games under Head Coach Kathy
Delaney-Smith, and has won at least 10 games in the conference 16
times.
History in the Making
Brogan Berry has been an impact player over the last four years
for the Crimsson and has etched her name into both the Ivy League
and Harvard record books. Entering Friday, Berry ranks third in
Harvard history and sixth in Ivy League annals with 488 career
assists, and is the eighth all-time leading scorer for the Crimson
with 1,300 career points. She needs just 80 more points to break
into the Ivy League all-time top 30, and is on pace to become the
only student-athlete in Ancient Eight history to score 1,300 points
and dish out 500 assists.
Click here to visit the Media Center on
GoCrimson.com to access Harvard's most up-to-date career
records.
Career Scoring (Harvard)
1. Allison Feaster '98 2,312
5. Erin Maher '93 1,582
6. Deb Flandermeyer '93 1,316
7. Sharon Hayes '88 1,302
8. Brogan Berry '12 1,300
Career Assists (Harvard)
1. Jennifer Monti '02 558
2. Emily Tay '09 514
3. Brogan Berry '12 488
Career Assists (Ivy)
1. Jennifer Monti '02, Harvard 558
5. Lauren Benson'10, Cornell 515
6. Brogan Berry '12, Harvard 488
Career Free-Throw Percentage (Ivy)
1. Angela Soriaga '06, Dartmouth 89.9
6. Brogan Berry '12, Harvard 82.4
Seeing Crimson
Ffreshman Kaitlyn Dinkins
and Erin
McDonnell have been featured in the latest Seeing Crimson
video. Watch the video below and step onto the court with the
Crimson as they work on their shooting technique.
Last Time Out
The Harvard women's basketball team rode a record-setting
performance at the free-throw line to a 68-56 win at Columbia
Saturday night, the team's fifth straight on the road.
The Crimson was a perfect 21-of-21 from the charity stripe, tying
the program record for free-throw percentage in a single game and
marking the first time the team has been perfect on more than 15
attempts. Christine Clark, meanwhile, matched Reka Cserny '05 for
the best individual performance at the line with a 12-of-12
showing.
Clark finished her night with 21 points, becoming the first
Crimson to score 20-plus in consecutive games since Victoria
Lippert did so in four straight games in February of 2010. Lippert
added 19 points to the scoring effort while Elle Hagedorn
chipped in 11 off the bench.
Click here to watch highlights from the
game.
Freebies
Harvard was a perfect 21-of-21 at the free-throw line at Columbia,
tying the program record for free-throw percentage in a single game
and marking the first time the team has been perfect on more than
15 attempts. The Crimson is one of just 10 teams in the NCAA this
season to finish a game without a miss at the line and at least 15
attempts, and along with Syracuse's 23-of-23 performance is one of
only two teams to do so with at least 20 attempts.
Christine Clark led Harvard with a 12-of-12 performance at the
line, tying her with Reka Cserny '05 for the best single-game
performance in program history. Clark made 29 consecutive free
throws earlier this season, including an 11-of-11 performance at
New Hampshire.
20/20 Vision
Christine Clark went off for 23 points at Cornell and followed
that up with a 21-point night at Columbia to become the first
Crimson since Victoria Lippert in 2010 to score at least 20 points
in back-to-back games. The sophomore was named the Ivy League
Player of the Week for her efforts, marking the second time this
season she has garnered the award and fourth total for the Crimson
this season.
D-Fence
The Crimson is a perfect 9-0 this season when allowing less than
60 points and has done so in each contest during its current
three-game winning streak. Harvard held both UMass (47) and TCU
(44) to under 50 points, marking the first time it has done so in
consecutive games since March of 2008. Both the Minutewomen (26.6)
and Horned Frogs (23.7) also shot below 30 percent, a feat which
the Crimson had not accomplished since at least the 2001-02 season,
the last season for which complete game-by-game records are
available.
Step Your Game Up
Junior Victoria Lippert has stepped her game up over the team's
last nine games, averaging 13.8 ppg while shooting 53.8 percent
from the floor and 45.5 percent from three. Lippert averaged 11.4
ppg in the Crimson's first nine contests, but shot just 40.8
percent from the floor and 34.7 percent from three. Lippert
currently ranks second in the Ivy League in field-goal percentage
(46.3), three-point percentage (39.4) and three-point field goals
made (2.1).
Just Like Home
Harvard has won five straight games on the road, marking the
team's longest road winning streak since winning seven straight
during the 2008-09 season. The Crimson is 6-4 on the road for the
season and is looking for its first winning season on the road
since going 10-5 in 2008-09.
Its Been A While
Head Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith, in her 30th season at the helm of
the Crimson, has coached 794 career games and will coach her 800th
Feb. 25 at Penn. Delaney-Smith has also been on the sidelines for
399 Ivy League contests and will coach her 400th Ancient Eight game
Saturday at home against the Quakers.
Nationally Known
Harvard entered the weekend ranked seventh in the NCAA in
free-throw percentage (78.2) and was 40th with a +5.5 rebounding
margin. The Crimson also ranked 10th in personal fouls (13.0), 72nd
in field-goal percentage (41.4) and 69th in three-point field goals
per game (6.0).
Individually, Brogan Berry owned the 19th best
assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1) in the land while her 4.8 apg were
good for 53rd. Berry also ranked 33rd in free-throw percentage
(86.0) while Christine Clark came in at 39th (85.8). Victoria
Lippert, meanwhile, ranked 25th in three-point percentage
(39.4).
They're on Fire
Harvard entered the weekend leading the Ivy League in field-goal
percentage and free-throw percentage, connecting on 41.4 percent of
its attempts from the floor and 78.2 percent at the line. The
Crimson has led the league in free-throw percentage each of the
last two seasons while finishing second in field-goal percentage
over that same span.
Individually, Victoria Lippert ranked second in the conference in
shooting percentage (46.3) while Emma Golen was 10th
(42.5). Brogan Berry had the fourth-best percentage at the line
(86.0) with Christine Clark coming in just behind her at fifth
(85.8).
From Way Down Town
Emma Golen entered play this weekend as the Ancient Eight's leader
in three-point percentage (41.7) while Victoria Lippert ranked
second (39.4). Lippert's 2.1 three-point field goals per game,
meanwhile, were also good for second in the conference with Golen's
1.4 makes per game ranking her eighth. The two had combined to
shoot 44.4 percent from three over the team's last 14 games, with
Golen hitting on 22-of-46 attempts and Lippert nailing
30-of-71.
Cleaning the Glass
The Crimson entered the weekend having outrebounded its opponents
in 17 of its first 19 games this season, including 10 straight from
Nov. 22 to Jan. 7. Harvard had not outrebounded opponents in
10-straight games since the 2006-07 season, when it went 15
straight games with a rebounding advantage. Harvard's 39.1
rpg ranked second in the Ivy League entering the weekend,
while its 33.5 rebounds allowed were first. The Crimson also ranked
second with a +5.5 rebounding margin.
Individually, Miriam Rutzen
ranked fifth in the Ancient Eight with 6.5 rpg after having grabbed
10 or more boards in four games this season.
Triple Threat
Returning All-Ivy selections Christine Clark, Brogan Berry and
Victoria Lippert are each averaging over 10 ppg and are among the
Ivy League's leading scorers. Entering the weekend Clark had netted
15.9 ppg, which was good for second in the conference, while
Lippert ranked eighth with 12.6 ppg and Berry ninth with 12.1
ppg.
Lavietes Love
The Crimson has enjoyed a distinct home-court advantage since the
2008-09 season, posting a 34-9 record at Lavietes Pavilion in that
time including an 18-5 mark in Ivy League play. Harvard had also
won eight of its last 10 Ancient Eight contests at home, and is 4-3
in Lavietes this season.
Haven't We Seen You Before?
Senior Brogan Berry entered the weekend having made 105 career
appearances in a Crimson uniform, including 104 career starts.
Should she appear in each of the Crimson's final regular season
games, she will finish with 114 career appearances, second only to
Christine Matera's '11 115. If Berry starts each of Harvard's
remaining regular season games, she will set the new program record
for career starts at 114.
Players of the Week
Senior co-captain Brogan Berry and sophomore Christine Clark have
each earned two Ivy League Player of the Week awards this season.
Berry owns five player of the week awards for her career, putting
her one shy of entering the Ancient Eight's all-time top 10.
Clark's honors, meanwhile, were the first of her career after
having been named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week three times
last season.
Doubling Up
Brogan Berry, Christine Clark, Emma Golen and Miriam Rutzen each
entered the weekend having recorded a double-double this season,
with Rutzen's 11-point, 11-rebound performance against Brown being
the most recent. Clark posted 17 points and 10 rebounds at
Dartmouth, while Berry notched hers with 12 points and 10 assists
at UMass. Golen recorded the first double-double of the year
against Boston University with 10 points and 10 boards.
Rutzen, meanwhile, matched Golen on the glass with 10 boards
against BU, making the two the first pair of Crimson
student-athletes to notch at least 10 rebounds in the same game
since Jackie Alemany '11 (13 rbs.) and Victoria Lippert (10 rbs.)
did so at Cornell on Feb. 19, 2010.
Rollin' Golen
Junior Emma Golen averaged 10.6 ppg and 5.8 rpg over a 10-game
span from Nov. 30 to Jan. 27, shooting 52.7 percent from the floor
and 57.1 percent from three. Golen scored in double-digits eight
times during this stretch, the only eight double-digit performances
of her career, while helping her team to a 6-4 record in the
process.
You Can Count on Clark
Entering the weekend, Christine Clark had scored in double-digits
each game this season and in 21 straight dating back to last year.
In 47 career games, Clark has scored at least 10 points 40 times
and has been limited to under five points only once.
In the Clutch
Harvard has played several games this season which have been
decided down the stretch, and two of the team's leading scorers
have stood up to the challenge. Christine Clark entered the weekend
shooting 54.5 percent (6-11) with less than two minutes to play
while going 27-of-31 from the line for a total of 39 points. Brogan
Berry, meanwhile, had totaled 34 points on 42.9 percent shooting
(6-14) while going 22-of-25 at the charity stripe.
A Tale of Two Halves
Harvard has thrived in the first half of games, and entered the
weekend having averaged 32.2 points on 41.8 percent shooting while
allowing 28.2 points on 40.1 percent shooting. In the second half,
however, the Crimson is scoring 33.5 points on 41.0 percent
shooting while allowing 34.6 points on 40.1 percent shooting.
Additionally, Harvard has made 72-of-206 attempts from three before
the break but just 42-of-166 after.
BIG Time Win
Harvard's 63-56 win over St. John's on Dec. 22 was the team's
first over a BIG EAST opponent in exactly eight years, following a
73-59 win at Providence on Dec. 22, 2003. It was also Harvard's
first win over a BIG EAST opponent at Lavietes Pavilion since a
79-76 triumph against Syracuse on Nov. 22, 2002, and its first over
a BCS conference school since an 82-81 win over Boston College on
Nov. 14, 2009.
And the Award Goes To...
Christine Clark was named the College Sports Madness Ivy League
Player of the Week on Feb. 5, marking the fourth time this season
the award has gone to a Crimson student-athlete. Clark was also the
first to garner the accolade on Nov. 13, and was followed by Emma
Golen (Dec. 4) and Brogan Berry (Jan. 8).
Player to Watch
Senior co-captain Brogan Berry, who has posted 15.0 ppg and 4.7
apg season, was featured on Graham Hays' list of mid-major players to watch on
ESPN.com.
"The 5-8 Ohio native averaged 4.6 assists per game as a junior and
ranked ninth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. She's not
all pass, holding onto the ball often enough to lead the Crimson by
averaging 13.6 points per game and shoot 39 percent from the
3-point line."
Captaining the Ship
Seniors Brogan Berry and Lindsay Louie were
chosen by their teammates as captains for the 2011-12 season. Berry
is a three-year starter and two-time team MVP, while Louie earned
the Harvard Pride Award following the 2009-10 season.
Catch the Crimson in 2011-12
Harvard fans can watch each of the team's 12 home games in 2011-12
live online through GoCrimson.com. A women's basketball pass costs
just $59.95 and this year also includes audio broadcasts for the
team's games at Providence, New Hampshire and Brown. Click here to sign up today.
Inside Ivy League Basketball
"Inside Ivy League Basketball," an online radio show dedicated to
talking basketball in the Ancient Eight, launched Thursday, Nov. 10
on BlogTalkRadio.com. "Inside Ivy League Basketball" takes an
in-depth look at all the news and notes surrounding Ivy men's and
women's basketball on and off the courts. Click here to listen now.
