Box Score CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Opening its home slate at Lavietes Pavilion this afternoon, the Harvard women's basketball team (1-2, 0-0) handed Northern Illinois its first loss of the season. The Crimson topped the Huskies, 70-53, to pick up its first win of the season.
 
Junior Maggie McCarthy had a dominant performance across the board against the Huskies, leading the Crimson with 16 points. Junior McKenzie Forbes followed closely behind with 15, while sophomore Lola Mullaney joined the pair in double figures with 10 points. Harvard tallied 21 total assists, led by seniors Tess Sussman and Maddie Stuhlreyer with four apiece. Defensively, Mullaney nearly had herself a double-double with nine rebounds, while McCarthy and junior Annie Stritzel each posted six boards.
 
Northern Illinois got on the board first after a scoreless defensive battle in the opening minutes of the game. Forbes and McCarthy responded by sinking triples to put the Crimson ahead. Harvard secured the next three baskets as well, including another triple from Sussman. Using a 6-1 run, the Crimson ended the first quarter leading 14-6.
 
Mullaney hit two baskets to begin quarter two, followed by back-to-back triples from McCarthy to give Harvard a double-digit lead at 26-13. Baskets from Maddie Stuhlreyer, Harmoni Turner and McCarthy carried the Crimson into halftime with a 30-17 advantage.
 
Forbes came out the gates with a hot hand in the third quarter, knocking down the Crimson's first five buckets to enter double figures with 14 points. Northern Illinois converted on two three-pointers, before Harvard sank five-straight baskets to widen its margin to 52-30. McCarthy drained her fourth triple of the game in the closing minutes of the quarter, helping the Crimson secure a 55-38 lead heading into the final frame.
 
Harvard used a 4-1 run at the start of the fourth quarter to push its advantage to 23 points. The Huskies dropped in five consecutive baskets to cut its deficit to 64-51 midway through the frame, but buckets from McCarthy and Elena Rodriguez sealed the 70-53 victory for the Crimson.
 
Harvard Highlights
- The Crimson has now won each of its last five home openers at Lavietes Pavilion.
- Harvard improves to 2-0 in its all-time series against Northern Illinois.
- Maggie McCarthy went 6-for-8 from field goal range and 4-for-5 on three pointers.
- Harvard tallied seven steals, with McCarthy, Mullaney and Turner each notching two.
- Senior Maddie Stuhlreyer blocked a team-high two shots. 

Up Next
Harvard will head out on the road, traveling to Rutgers on Friday, Nov. 19. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on RVision.