W. Cagers Turned Back By Blue Devils, 80-74

Turnovers. They have plagued the Harvard women's baskeball team all season, and they haunted the Crimson once again last night against Central Connecticut at Kaiser Hall in New Britain, Ct.

The Crimson (3-4) had its three-game winning streak snapped as it coughed the ball up 18 times in the first half alone and, despite a strong second half, fell to the Blue Devils, 80-74.

Michelle Crimmins led CCSU with 22 points on 10-for-12 shooting from the field, while Angie Suffridge and Charlene Shephard each added 13 points for the Blue Devils.

"We dug our own grave in the first half," Coach Kathy Delaney Smith said. "We played our worst game of the season."

It may have been their poorest performance of the season, but Harvard still had a shot to come away with the victory down the stretch. With 20 seconds remaining, the score was tied, 74-74. The Crimson failed to convert on its next two possesions and was forced to foul Central Connecticut, but with two seconds left on the clock, Harvard was still in it. With her team trailing by two points and the Blue Devils shooting one-and-one, Delaney Smith called timeout.

Can Anyone Here Count?

The referee indicated that Harvard did not have any timeouts remaining, however, and charged Delaney Smith with a technical foul. Allegedly, Harvard had been mistakenly assessed with a CCSU timeout earlier in the game, and charged Delaney Smith said last night that she intends to protest the game.

Nevertheless, the Blue Devils were awarded two technical foul shots plus possession of the ball--enough to clinch the six-point win.

Despite sloppy play in the first half and a frustrating finish, there were bright spots for the Crimson. Junior guard Beth Wambach played an outstanding second half, finishing with 27 points on 5-for-7 shooting from three-point range.

"Beth Wambach played maybe the best half of her life," Delaney Smith said.

Freshman guard Erin Maher--last week's Ivy League Rookie of the Week--added two threes, finishing with 14 points, Co-Captain Dina Hadrick came off the bench to contribute 10 points and senior forward Sandy Springer pumped in nine from the paint.

Harvard was strong defensively, hit the boards hard behind forward Jen Mazanec's seven rebounds, and outshot the Blue Devils from the field, 55 to 44 percent.

But turnovers did them in once again.

THE NOTEBOOK: Harvard will try to even its record Saturday when it meets Maine at 6 p.m. at Briggs Cage. Although the Crimson will have the home court advantage, the game promises to be a real battle against one of the toughest teams in New England.

Blue Devils, 80-74 at New Britain, Ct. HARVARD  26-48--74 Central Connecticut  36-44--80

Central Connecticut (80): Linda Lee 2-0--4; Michelle Grifford 4-0--8; Angie Suffridge 4-4--13; Charlene Shephard 5-3--13; Michelle Crimmins 10-2--22; Sunny Hill 1-0--2; Ruthie Smith 3-0--6; Denise Como 4-0--8; Keisha Carmichael 1-2--4.

Tests: 34-65 11-13 80

HARVARD (74): Jen Mazanec 2-0--4; Sandy Springer 4-1--9; Maura Healey 1-1--3; Beth Wambach 9-4--27; Dina Hadrick 4-2--10; Erin Maher 4-2--12; Betsy Odita 2-3--7; Debbie Flandermeyer 1-0--2.

Totals: 27-47 13-16 74

Three-pointers: CCSU (Hill); Harvard (Wambach 5, Maher 2). Rebounds: Harvard 33 (Mazanec 7). Assists: CCSU 26 (Grifford, Suffridge 5); Harvard 21 (Healey, Hadrick 5). Steals: CCSU 16 (Grifford 5); Harvard 14 (Wambach, Healy, Maher, Odita 3). Blocked Shots: CCSU (Smith); Harvard 3 (Fink, Maher, Mazanec). Total fouls: CCSU 13, Harvard 13. Fouled out: None. Technical Fouls: Harvard (Coach Kathy Delaney Smith). Turnovers: CCSU 18, Harvard 26.