Women's Cagers Host Army Tonight

Okay, so it wasn't the best way to open up the season, but the Harvard women's basketball team is not losing any sleep, or confidence for that matter, after its tough 56-54 loss to Boston University last Friday.

It's time to start anew, and what better place to notch the first win of the 1996-97 season than at Lavietes Pavilion tonight against Army?

"It was definitely tough to open up on the road," captain Jessica Gelman. "I am really excited to have a three-game homestand coming up, to have something familiar.

After losing only four players and returning 12, including two starters, there is no doubt that the Crimson is loaded with depth and talent.

Always an offensive powerhouse, Ivy League Player of the Year, Allison Feaster will be looking to lead the charge. After aver-aging 18.1 points per game last season, the junior kept on running against B.U. on Friday despite a sore knee.

Both Gelman and captain Kelly Black will be essential to the Crimson attack as well.

Black nabbed 5.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last year and will take on increased responsibilities in the paint this year. She will be joined by juniors Sarah Brandt and Allison Seanor as well as sophomore Suzie Miller.

Sophomore Rose Janowski will return to action after suffering a broken bone in her face during preseason. Sporting new goggles for protection, Janowski will round out the Crimson lineup.

"We are a very different team this year," Gelman said. "We are very young and it will be just a matter of time for us to form an identity. We are getting more confidence in our playing ability as we are trying to just find out own mold."

Harvard is set and ready to roll, but what about Army?

Traditionally the cadets have not been a powerhouse, but at this point in the season, any opponent is deadly.

"We beat [Army] by 25 last year, but they are supposed to be much better this year," Gelman said. "We definitely won't take them lightly because we also beat B.U. by 20 last year."

The stage is set and the players are ready. Although the Crimson is optimistic and looking ahead, it definitely has not forgotten its first loss. A tough two-point lesson is easy to forgive, but definitely harder to forget.

"The loss on Friday really motivated us," Gelman said. "It made us realize that we have this great potential and that it is just a matter of recommitting ourselves to the team everyday. It will all start on Tuesday."

The confidence and the desire is there for Harvard and by the looks of things, Army may be in for a little basic training tonight.