CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In its 2022-23 season opener, the Harvard women's basketball team (1-0) defeated Rhode Island (0-1) by a score of 88-74 tonight at Lavietes Pavilion.

The Crimson was led by sophomore and 2022 Ivy League Rookie of the Year Harmoni Turner, who put up a career-high 31 points, making 7-of-7 free throws and also leading the team in assists with five.

Junior Lola Mullaney was the first to score in Lavietes Pavilion this season, hitting the Crimson's first five points against URI with a field goal followed by a three-pointer. The first period was a close contest between the two teams, with Harvard ultimately ending the frame ahead, 15-13.

In the second period, the Crimson found its rhythm offensively, while turning up the defensive pressure. Leading the charge on the defensive side were Gabby Anderson and McKenzie Forbes, who posted two steals and one blocked shot, respectively. The duo's effort helped the home side take a 40-29 lead into halftime.

With a strong lead going into the second half of the game, Harvard came out of the locker confident and continued to dominate offensively, making 75 percent of its field-goal attempts and 67 percent of its three-point attempts. With eight rebounds over URI's one in the third period, the Crimson lead ballooned to 23 points, pushing the score to 73-56.

While the Rams scored first in the fourth quarter, they were still no match for the Crimson in the final 10 minutes. Maintaining Harvard's momentum, Mullaney hit two more three-point baskets in the first three minutes of play to extend the Crimson's lead once again. Despite allowing 17 points in the fourth quarter, Harvard's 15 last-quarter points held up and brought the Crimson to its 15-point victory.

Harvard Highlights

- Three Crimson players scored in double-digits, led by Turner's 31. Mullaney added 20 and Forbes poured in 20.
- Tonight marks the largest season-opening win since a 15-point victory vs. Fordham to open the 1990-91 season.
- Tonight's victory marks the Crimson's first season-opening home victory since 2014 and the first season-opening victory since a road contest at Northern Illinois in 2019.
- Harmoni Turner set a career-high points scored with 31, making 11-of-19 field goals and 2-of-3 three-point attempts.
- Four Crimson players made 100 percent of their free throws, led by Turner with seven, Forbes with four, and Anderson and Katie Krupa with two each.

- Forbes tallied a team-best three blocks.
- The Crimson scored over 90 points for the first time since Jan. 17, 2022, when it defeated Dartmouth after scoring 96.

- Harvard defeated a Rams team that ended the 2021-22 season with a 22-7 record and made an appearance in the WNIT after defeating the Crimson early in the season.

- Harvard is now 11-9 all-time against URI in program history. 

Up Next

The Crimson will host Boston College on Thursday, Nov. 10 at Lavietes Pavilion. The game will air on ESPN+.