Women Cagers Fall to UNH, 71-61; Exam Layoff Affects Team's Play

DURHAM, N.H.--Before Monday's Harvard-New Hampshire women's basketball game, UNH Coach Kathy Sanborn had a hunch.

"The fact that Harvard's been off," Sanborn said, "I don't know if that's good or bad."

The Wildcats (11-7) soon learned that playing a well-rested team is an advantage as they downed Harvard, 71-61, here at Lundholm Gym. The Crimson's extended layoff proved to be UNH's sixth player, its additional weapon.

A weapon Harvard (9-5, 3-0 Ivy) had no thought of becoming.

"I'm very disappointed because I feel we are a better team," Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney Smith said.

Indeed, the same Harvard squad that beat Dartmouth by 14 points looked flat against a team that lost to Dartmouth by 15.

The Crimson played tentatively. The perimeter players were threatened and did not fight back.

"I didn't get the feeling that we attacked them," Delaney Smith said.

Give UNH credit. After being down by as much as 15 points during the first half, it switched from a man-to-man defense to a zone.

"[The switch] took us out of our rhythm," Harvard guard Heidi Kosh said. "We were shooting the shots. We just weren't hitting them."

The Wildcats pecked away at Harvard's lead and managed to overtake the Crimson at the half, 35-33. The difference in the game was that UNH adjusted when it was down; Harvard could not.

"Instead of making adjustments, our mentality changed," Delaney Smith said. "We got away from all the things we do well."

The Crimson's distraction was most obvious on the free throw line. It shot 1-for-8 in the first half and hit a total of only five shots in the game.

UNH penetrated Harvard's full court pressure and controlled the boards. Guard Michele Brusseau powered the Wildcats with 18 points, while Co-Captain Kris Kinney and guard Julie Donlon each had nine rebounds.

"The key was bringing the ball up against Harvard's pressure," Sanborn said.

The Wildcats played a determined, fast-paced second half. At the 16:26 mark, Brusseau broke through three Harvard players for a reverse layup. Kinney capped UNH's 12-point rampage with a jumper to give the Wildcats a 49-37 lead.

UNH, unlike the Crimson, has faced a string of teams in the past week. In addition to Harvard, the Wildcats came up against Brooklyn, Dartmouth and Northeastern, and it meets rival Maine today.

"It's been difficult with so many games in a row," Brusseau said. "[Sanborn] told us to play our game."