Cambridge, Mass. - The Harvard women's basketball team's historic season (20-12, 9-5 Ivy) ended with a close battle against Columbia (27-5, 12-2 Ivy) in the WNIT Great 8, 77-71.
Harvard took the lead early in the first with points from
Harmoni Turner and
Elena Rodriguez, but the Lions were able to reclaim an advantage to a relatively low-scoring quarter up 14-9 over the Crimson.
McKenzie Forbes scored the first points of the second quarter, pulling up from the floor for a two-point jumper. Turner hit the following shots and Rodriguez and Forbes made a push in the final minutes of the quarter to cut into Columbia's lead, outscoring the Lions in 14-13 to task the Crimson with making up a four-point differential in the second half.
Rodriguez brought it to a one-possession game after a layup to start the third, but the Lions went on a run to extend their lead and end the third quarter 61-43, Columbia.
Forbes joined Turner and Rodriguez in double digits early in the fourth as Harvard went on a 13-point run through the first three minutes of the quarter, shooting 100% for the first four minutes. Forbes brought it within two with a shot from three with three to go but the Lions scored the next four points. The Lions ultimately held on for the win, ending Harvard's season in the WNIT quarterfinals, 77-71.
Harvard Highlights
• Turner led the team in scoring, shooting 11-for-22 from the floor to put up 23 points. She also led the team in assists, dishing out seven.
• Forbes and Rodriguez followed Turner in scoring, putting up 15 points each.
Katie Krupa joined them in double digits with 11.
• Rodriguez,
Lola Mullaney and
Maggie McCarthy each pulled down five rebounds to lead the Crimson.
• Following Turner's seven assists, Forbes passed off two.
•
Saniyah Glenn-Bello and Turner were strong on the defensive end as well, both with two steals on the night.
• Every player who touched the court pulled down at least one rebound as the Crimson grabbed 34 throughout the night.
• Harvard increased their scoring through each quarter, putting up the most points in quarter four with 28. The Crimson outscored the Lions in the second quarter (14-13) and fourth quarter (28-16).
