NEWARK, DE – Harvard women's basketball brought 2023 and their non-conference slate to a close this afternoon with a dominant, 88-58, victory over University of Delaware.  Elena Rodriguez helped lift the Crimson to 7-6 on the year with a career night of 33 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.
 
Four Crimson players scored in double digits for the fourth time in five games as Lola Mullaney (16), Saniyah Glenn-Bello (15), and Katie Krupa (11) joined Rodriguez in double figures.  Glenn-Bello joined her teammate in posting a career-high as her 15 points surpassed a previous high of 13 against Boston College last season.  Krupa reached her fifth game in double figures by shooting a perfect five-for-five from the field. 

How it Happened

Elena Rodriguez got to work instantly as she notched the first six points for the Crimson.  Throughout the first eight minutes Harvard and Delaware traded buckets but a 9-0 run in the final two minutes grew the Crimson lead to 21-13.  Of the Crimson 21 points, Rodriguez claimed 12 of them on a perfect four-for-four from the field.  The squad ended the first frame eight-of-11 (72.7%) from the field and three-of-four (75.0%) from distance.  Harvard assisted on all eight of their made field goals in the 10 minutes of play, led by three from Lola Mullaney.
 
Not letting up as play rolled into the second quarter, the Crimson grew its run to 22-0 to lead 34-13 three minutes into the second frame.  In total, Harvard outscored the Blue Hens 22-6 in the quarter to hold a 24-point advantage headed into the locker room.  Rodriguez once again posted a double-digit quarter with 10 points on four-of-five shooting and six rebounds.  At half, the junior already had a double-double with 10 rebounds and a season-high 22 points. 
 
Katie Krupa opened up scoring in the second half by connecting off a Rodriguez assist in the first 30 seconds.  Krupa and fellow sophomore, Saniyah Glenn-Bello, accounted for the first 13 points of the half with seven and six points, respectively.  A made triple from Mullaney with 4:34 remaining in the quarter put the Crimson lead over 30 and marked double digit triples on the day.  Going into the final ten minutes of play, the Crimson held a 66-33 advantage. 
 
Harvard closed out their dominant day with 22 points in the frame led by eight from Rodriguez and seven from Glenn-Bello.  Both quarter high-scorers surpassed their career highs in the final ten minutes as Rodriguez hit 33 points and Glenn-Bello notched 15.  Ultimately, the Crimson finished 2023 and non-conference action by picking up a 30-point victory. 

Harvard Highlights

• Elena Rodriguez was unstoppable against the Blue Hens scoring a career-high 33 points on 11-of-14 from the field and a perfect five-for-five from deep.  The junior scored more points than Delaware's total at halftime by posting a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds heading into the locker room.  In total, Rodriguez ended with 11 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks. 
• Lola Mullaney ended the night with 16 points on four-of-10 shooting while dishing out six assists. 
• Saniyah Glenn-Bello posted a career best 15 points on six-of-11 shooting from the field.  The sophomore added to her strong performance by handing out five assists and grabbing three rebounds. 
• Katie Krupa closes out the double-digit scorers for the Crimson by reaching 11 points on 100% (5-5) shooting from the field.
• As a team the Crimson scored a season best 88 points by also shooting a season high both from the field and beyond the arc with 58.5% and 52.4%, respectively.  Harvard's 31 made field goals marks their second highest so far this season. 
• Of its 31 made field goals, the Crimson dished out a near season-best 21 assists.  Mullaney, Rodriguez, and Glenn-Bello all registered five or more assists on the day.   
• For the sixth time in thirteen games, the Crimson made double digit three-pointers by shooting 11-for-21 from beyond the arc against Delaware. 
• Harvard, who has been consistently dominant in not allowing their opponents to have similar success from three-point land.  Today, the Crimson held the Blue Hens to 21.4% from deep with just three made buckets. 
• The Crimson out rebounded the Blue Hens by grabbing 34 boards to Delaware's 27. 
• With the win, Harvard stays undefeated in the all-time series against Delaware by improving to 2-0 in the team's first meeting in nearly 30 years. 

Next Up

The Crimson will return home for the first time since December 2 to open up Ivy League play as they welcome Yale to Cambridge, Mass. The first tip of conference play will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET from Lavietes Pavilion and on NESN.