CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's basketball (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) started its 2024-25 campaign this evening with a 71-58 win over in-state rival, the UMass Minutewomen (0-1, 0-0 A10).
Gabby Anderson led the charge for the Crimson, making plays everywhere on the court with a career-best 20 points (7-14 FG, 4-7 3-PT), six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Elena Rodriguez also provided an all-around performance for the Crimson, contributing 18 points on 80% shooting, eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals. As a team, Harvard overwhelmed the Minutewomen, forcing 34 turnovers and capitalizing for 33 points in return.
On Anderson's comprehensive performance
Carrie Moore, the Kathy Delaney-Smith Head Coach for Harvard Women's Basketball, said, "Credit to Gabby, she did a lot of work this summer. She came back a much different basketball player, energetically, confidence wise, physically, mentally, emotionally… All that I talk to our team about, she brings to the court. I mean how can you not play her? She made so many huge plays for us offensively but most importantly, defensively too."
How it Happened
The Minutewomen connected for the first seven points of the contest before the Crimson came to life and registered 10 unanswered. The first quarter remained relatively low scoring, as UMass was eventually able to retake its lead and hold a 15-12 advantage after 10 minutes.
As either end of the court came to life for Harvard in the second quarter, the Crimson were able to grow its lead out to 11. A
Harmoni Turner triple and a bucket from
Gabby Anderson put the Crimson in front 16-15 two minutes into the frame and the home team would go on to never again relinquish its lead in the contest. On the back of an 11-0 scoring run in the first half of the quarter, the Crimson were overtaking all momentum. Ultimately the Crimson were able to hold a comfortable 32-21 lead heading into the locker room, having outscored the Minutewomen 20-6 in the second frame. At the half the Crimson had already collected nine steals and forced 17 turnovers.
Harvard continued to maintain its lead out of the break, responding to each UMass attempted push at cutting the deficit. The Crimson were able to bring the advantage back to double digits consistently, eventually heading into the final frame with a 12 point cushion. Harvard saw contributions from five different players as it put up 17 points to combat the Minutewomen's strongest shooting quarter so far.
UMass continued to show its fight into the final quarter, cutting the Crimson lead to five at the 5:08 mark and then to three with less than two minutes remaining. Combining strong defensive efforts and clutch buckets, Harvard reached another double figure advantage and solidified a win on opening night. With less than a minute remaining
Saniyah Glenn-Bello connected for an exclamation three, putting Harvard up 64-58 and triggering late game fouling to eventually put the Crimson back with its largest lead of the night at 13 with a 71-58 final result.
Harvard Highlights
- Gabby Anderson had a career night, posting a career-best 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 4-of-7 from distance to lead the way for the Crimson. The junior was making plays all over the court, adding six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks all while not committed a foul in 28 minutes played.
- Elena Rodriguez also posted an all-around performance, adding 18 points while shooting 80% (8-of-10 FG) from the field, a team-high eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals.
- Harmoni Turner closed out the Crimson players in double figures, connected for 13 points while also dishing out four assists and collecting a team-best five takeaways.
- The story of the contest for Harvard was defense as it posted its most steals since the 2021-22 season with 19, forced 34 total Minutewomen turnovers, and recorded eight blocks. The Crimson capitalized for 33 points off of UMass turnovers.
- Six different Crimson registered two or more steals, led by last-season's Ivy League steals leader, Turner, totaling five on the night.
- Of its 26 made field goals, the Crimson dished out 15 assists, led by four each from Anderson and Turner.
- With the win, the Crimson improve to 12-14 all-time versus the Minutewomen. Although trailing in the all-time series, Havard has won 11 of the last 13 meetings, including the last three.
Next Up
The Crimson will hit the road for a ranked battle this upcoming Thursday as it clashes with No. 25 Indiana. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. inside Assembly Hall and on BIG+.
