ITHACA, N.Y. – Harvard women's basketball (10-8, 3-2 Ivy) dominated in Ithaca this afternoon to pick up its 10
th win of the season. With career days from
Mary Hollensteiner and
Olivia Jones, the Crimson cruised past Cornell (7-11, 2-3 Ivy), 84-38.
While both shooting over 70%, Hollensteiner and Jones paced the Crimson's offense with 22 and 17 points, respectively. Jones also notched her first career double-double by dishing out 10 assists. On the other end of the court, the Crimson's defense locked down the Big Red, forcing a season-high 31 turnovers.
How it Happened
The Crimson's defensive pressure was evident from the jump as it forced five Big Red turnovers and gave up just four points in the first five minutes. Conversely, the Crimson protected the ball to build an early 12-4 lead. While Cornell settled in slightly in the remainder of the frame, Harvard held a 19-10 lead after ten minutes.
The Big Red pulled within five at the beginning of the second quarter but then the Crimson blew open the game with a 12-0 run. Harvard was receiving contributions all down its lineup as eight different players got on the board, but
Olivia Jones and
Mary Hollensteiner paced the offense. Jones had 10 points early and Hollensteiner exploded for a new career-high of 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting and 5-for-5 from distance. At the half, the Crimson were up big, 49-24.
Harvard never let its foot off the gas after the break, extending its lead to more than 30 with a 10-3 quarter opening run. While shooting over 50% in the third frame and giving up just three field goals, the Crimson led by 34 heading into the final frame.
The Crimson put together a full 40 minutes as it closed the game by allowing just four points and forcing 11 turnovers in the last quarter. With its 16-4 advantage in the frame, Harvard closed the contest with an 84-38 victory.
Harvard Highlights
- In what was the Crimson's second-highest scoring output of the season as it received contributions from 10 different players.
- Mary Hollensteiner led all scorers with a career-high 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 6-of-7 from distance. The junior also pulled down four rebounds against the Big Red.
- Olivia Jones also had a career day with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting. The first-year grabbed four boards, had two steals, and dished out 10 assists for her first career double-double.
- Karlee White tallied 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. The junior has shot 60% from the field and reached double figures in each of the last four games.
- Saniyah Glenn-Bello added nine points and led the Crimson in rebounds with five and steals with three.
- The Crimson shot just under 50% from the field and went 12-of-26 from distance against the Big Red.
- Harvard tallied 25 assists on 34 made field goals. It is the most assists in a single game for the Crimson since 2023.
- The Crimson's 12 made threes mark its second most this season and the fifth time the Crimson have made 10 or more in a game.
- Harvard matched its season-low with 11 turnovers and conversely forced a season-high 31 turnovers. The Crimson converted for 39 points off the Big Red's miscues.
- Harvard's defense had a season-high 15 steals as six different players recorded at least two takeaways.
- Harvard won the rebounding battle 35-27, including grabbing 16 offensive boards.
- Harvard has won the last eight meetings and is now up 78-13 in the all-time series against Cornell.
Next Up
The Crimson will return home to close out the first month of league play against Yale on Friday, January 30 at 7:00 p.m. ET and Brown on Saturday, January 31 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Lavietes Pavilion.
