CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Despite 20 points from Harmoni Turner, the Harvard women's basketball team (7-9, 1-3 Ivy League) suffered a closely contested, 72-64, loss to Columbia (11-3, 2-0 Ivy League), today at Lavietes Pavilion.
 
First-year Turner led the Crimson offense with 20 points, while senior Tess Sussman (14) and sophomore Lola Mullaney (11) joined her in double figures. Turner took charge of Harvard's defense as well, posting a team-high nine rebounds. Junior Maggie McCarthy contributed on both ends of the floor as well, tallying seven rebounds, five steals and four assists.
 
Harvard began the game with a 7-3 lead, including five points from Sussman. The Crimson used a quick 10-0 run to build a nine-point advantage at 12-3, before Columbia came back to tie the game at 13-13 after its own 10-1 run. The Lions added five more points in the closing minutes of the opening frame to gain a slight 18-15 lead.
 
Strong defense prevailed in the first half of the second quarter, as both teams went nearly scoreless until the six-minute mark when Turner dropped in two buckets. Columbia knocked down a triple to maintain a 21-20 edge midway through, before back-and-forth action led to a 27-27 tie after five more points from Turner. A late basket in the final minute of the period put the Lions up by one at 29-28 heading into halftime.
 
Mullaney started off the second half with back-to-back baskets, including her first triple of the game, to take the lead back at 33-29. Columbia laid in five-straight points to regain a 34-33 advantage, until the teams began to trade buckets and exchange leads again. The Lions then went on a 9-0 run to push ahead 45-37 at the end of the quarter.
 
A triple from Columbia to begin the fourth quarter widened the Lions' margin to 11. Despite four points from Annie Stritzel, Columbia dropped in two more three-pointers to go up 54-40. Harvard found an offensive spark midway through the frame, using a 13-4 run with two triples from McCarthy and one from Mullaney, to come within seven at 60-53. Columbia put up five-straight points to build a double-digit lead again and maintained the advantage into the closing minutes of the game. The Lions' lead proved too much to overcome for the Crimson, as Columbia sealed a 72-64 win.
 
Harvard Highlights
- Harmoni Turner recorded 20 or more points for the fourth time this season, including 10-straight games in double figures.
- Turner was just shy of her third double-double this season, posting 20 points and nine rebounds.
- Maggie McCarthy posted a career-high five steals.
- The Crimson dished out 16 assists and grabbed 12 steals. 

Up Next
Harvard will return to the court to host Dartmouth this Monday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. at Lavietes Pavilion. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and NESN. No spectators will be allowed in attendance.