NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Karlee White posted a career-high 35 points to lift Harvard women's basketball (14-8, 7-2 Ivy) past Yale (5-17, 1-8 Ivy), 70-62, this evening in New Haven.
The junior captain paced the Crimson's offense by scoring 50% of the team's points while shooting 16-of-26 from the field. White also added four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
How it Happened
With the help of a hot start from
Abigail Wright, the Crimson built an early 10-5 lead through the opening five minutes. In the middle portion of the frame, Harvard exploded on a 14-0 run to pull away 22-5. Yale's own 6-0 quarter-ending run, however, narrowed the deficit to 11 at the conclusion of the first. Wright and White led the way in the first ten minutes, combining for 15 points.
The Crimson were unable to build its lead back up in the second quarter as the Bulldogs consistently responded. Harvard narrowly outscored Yale 17-16 in the frame, with the help of a
Katie Krupa last-second lay-in, to maintain a double-digit lead heading into the locker room.
White had Harvard's first seven points of the third quarter to extend the Crimson's lead back out to 14. The Bulldogs, however, refused to go away. Beginning at the 4:45 mark, Yale went on a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to two possessions. Despite Yale pressuring, buckets from White and
Olivia Jones in the final two minutes helped Harvard lead 53-43 with 10 minutes to play.
Yale cut the deficit to as little as three, but Harvard still never lost control of the lead completely. White continued to deliver for Harvard down the stretch, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
Harvard Highlights
- With the win, the Crimson improve to 7-2 in conference play and are tied atop the Ivy League standings with Princeton and Columbia. Harvard has started 7-2 in conference play in each of Carrie Moore's four years at the helm.
- Karlee White scored over 30 points for the first time in her career with her 35 points on 16-of-26 shooting this evening. The scoring total ranks inside the top 10 for single-game points in program history. Her field goal total of 16 also ranks sixth in program history. The junior added four rebounds, two assists, and two steals to her career night.
- Abigail Wright also surpassed double digits by adding 12 points on 50% shooting (6-of-12 FG). The junior tallied a team-high six boards, a block, and a steal as well.
- Katie Krupa had an all-around performance with nine points, a career-high seven assists, five rebounds, and a steal.
- Olivia Jones contributed eight points, four boards, three assists, three steals, and a block against the Bulldogs.
- The Crimson shot an even 50% from the field this evening with 30 made field goals. Most of Harvard's buckets came around the basket as it totaled 52 points in the paint.
- Harvard's defense forced 19 Yale turnovers and converted for 27 points off the miscues.
- The Crimson has now won seven straight over the Bulldogs, having swept Yale in each of the last three seasons.
Next Up
The Crimson will close out its back-to-back weekend tomorrow evening at 5:00 p.m. ET against Brown in Providence, R.I.
