PRINCETON, NJ – Harvard women's basketball (12-2, 1-1 Ivy) narrowly fell, 52-50, as Princeton (11-4, 2-0 Ivy) connected on a last second bucket to steal the victory inside Jadwin Gymnasium.
Harvard was led by a season-high 22 points on 11-of-18 shooting from
Elena Rodriguez. The senior also added three rebounds, four steals, and two blocks in the contest.
How it Happened
Harvard went to work early, pulling ahead 6-0 on the back of its signature defensive pressure and buckets from
Lydia Chatira and
Elena Rodriguez. The Tigers were able to regroup however, matching the Crimson run ultimately creating a back and forth affair for the remainder of the stanza. As either team shot at least 40% from the field, Princeton held a slight 15-14 advantage at the conclusion of the first.
A stall on the offensive end for Harvard allowed the Tigers to grow its lead to 23-16 through the first four and a half minutes of the second quarter. The Crimson defense kept Princeton from growing its lead any larger in the frame, trailing 25-18 heading into the locker room.
The Crimson allowed its defense to bring its offense to life in the second half as its first two buckets came off steals. Harvard continued to chip into the Tigers lead, pulling within four at the 5:54 mark. Princeton was able to regain a larger lead, pulling ahead by as many as eight but as the Crimson continued to battle it trailed 39-34 at the conclusion of three quarters.
Rodriguez continued to work early in the fourth, knocking down the first two Crimson buckets to help pull within one. The senior continued to be the spark throughout the final ten minutes contributing 10 of her season-high 22 points in the frame. Harvard took the first lead since the opening minutes at 50-48 with 2:17 remaining. Shortly after the Tigers tied up the contest with a pair of free throws. Neither team hit a field goal for the remainder of the game until a buzzer beater from Princeton's Ashley Chea helped the Tigers still the win.
Harvard Highlights
- Elena Rodriguez had an all-around performance as she led the way for the Crimson with 22 points on 11-of-18 shooting, three rebounds, two locks, and a team-high four steals.
- Harmoni Turner reached double figures for the fifth straight game, adding 15 points. The senior flirted with a double-double as she also added a team-best nine rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.
- Harvard had a strong presence near the rim this afternoon, as 40 of its 50 points came inside the paint.
- The Crimson continues to look strong on the defensive end, forcing the Tigers into its third highest turnover total of the season with 20.
- Additionally, Harvard recorded 11 steals, marking its fourth straight game with double figures in the category and 10th total time this season.
Next Up
The Crimson will return home for the first time in the Ivy League season as it welcomes the Brown Bears to Cambridge. Tip-off on Saturday, January 18 is set for 2:00 p.m. inside Lavietes Pavilion and on ESPN+.
