AMHERST, Mass. – Despite 20 points from junior McKenzie Forbes and a strong third quarter, the Harvard women's basketball team (0-2, 0-0 Ivy League) fell to UMass (2-0, 0-0 A-10) in a battle at the Mullins Center tonight, Nov. 12. The Minutewomen defeated the Crimson 80-71 as Harvard moves to 0-2 on the season.
 
In her Harvard debut, Forbes led the Crimson with 20 points, shooting 4-for-9 from three-point range. Sophomore Lola Mullaney and senior co-captain Tess Sussman joined Forbes in double figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Forbes led the team in assists and rebounds as well, adding seven helpers and eight boards to her tally.
 
The Crimson came out of the gates with a 6-0 lead after three-straight jumpers. UMass started to chip away at the score midway through the opening frame, before Maggie McCarthy and Sussman both hit triples to extend the Crimson's advantage to 12-7. The Minutewomen fired back, using a 6-2 run to take a 20-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Mullaney sank three consecutive triples to open the second quarter, allowing the Crimson to regain its lead at 25-22. Forbes set McCarthy up for the Crimson's next two baskets, helping widen Harvard's margin to 29-22. Forbes added a triple of her own, before UMass responded with three of its own to cut its deficit to 35-33. Co-captain Annie Stritzel's buzzer beater brought Harvard into halftime up 39-37.
 
UMass knocked down five-straight baskets to begin the second half, before the Crimson stormed back with a 5-1 run highlighted by triples from Sussman and Harmoni Turner to come within one point of the Minutewomen at 50-49. Harvard took back its advantage late in the third quarter after Forbes and Mullaney added two more baskets from downtown, heading into the final frame leading 57-54.
 
Stritzel and Turner drained triples at the start of the fourth quarter, but UMass used a 5-2 run to take back the lead at 66-63. Forbes hit a clutch triple to tie the game at 66-66, before the Minutewomen delivered another three-straight baskets to push its advantage to 74-68. A defensive battle ensued towards the end of the fourth quarter, as the two teams traded baskets. However, UMass hit free throws down the line to seal an 80-71 victory.
 
Harvard Highlights
- Junior McKenzie Forbes made her debut in a Crimson uniform tonight, posting a team-high 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
- First-year Harmoni Turner tallied three steals.
- The Crimson recorded 21 assists and 30 bench points. 

Up Next
The Crimson will return to Cambridge to host Northern Illinois in its home opener at Lavietes Pavilion this Sunday, Nov. 14. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.