Harvard Outlasts Northeastern, Sweeps Boston Teams

The undefeated streak of the Harvard women’s basketball team at home survived another night—and double overtime—as the Crimson defeated Northeastern (5-3), 90-85, yesterday evening. Harvard (6-3) is now 5-0 at home and can boast its best start since the 2001-02 season.

The Crimson was led by sophomore Brogan Berry, who had a career-high 31 points, junior Emma Markley, who recorded her third consecutive double-double, with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and freshman Victoria Lippert, who also had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

“It was a very well-fought game between both teams,” Berry said. “We came out hard and never gave up.”

Although the victory was well-fought, the Harvard performance was not without its flaws. The Huskies out-rebounded the Crimson 58-52 overall, bringing down an impressive 29 offensive boards to Harvard’s 13. Northeastern sophomore Brittany Wilson, who recorded a game-high 34 points, had 21 rebounds herself.

“We gave up way too many offensive boards,” said Harvard coach Kathy Delaney-Smith. “Our defense was good, but it was our rebounding that killed us.”

“We had a little trouble with their penetration and definitely with our rebounding,” Berry added. “We’ve been having trouble with [rebounding] all season, but every game, it’s our priority to improve on that.”

Aside from rebounding, Harvard was effective on the offensive attack, but neither team could gain a clear advantage.  Both the first and second halves brought a series of lead changes and momentum shifts, and the greatest separation between the opponents was just seven points.

The Crimson entered halftime with a 35-31 advantage over the Huskies, powered by a late scoring surge by Berry.

The second half, much like the first, saw neither team dominate play. A run early into the second half put Harvard up by seven, but Northeastern fought back, evening the score at 59 with just under seven minutes left in regulation. A final layup by Lippert, off of an assist from Berry, in the waning seconds of the half tied the game at 65, forcing overtime.

Throughout the extra period, the Crimson and the Huskies went back and forth, each scoring nine points. Lippert, off of the same shot that forced the first overtime, sent the game into double overtime for only the second time in Crimson history.

Finally, in the second overtime, Harvard was able to build a lead that outlasted Northeastern, fueled mainly by Berry, Lippert, and Markley. When the Huskies fouled, the Crimson answered by going 4-of-6 from the stripe, sealing the victory.

Harvard’s impressive overtime performance against Northeastern is a stark contrast to the one it had only weeks ago against New Hampshire, getting outscored, 20-7, in the extra period to drop a 78-65 decision to the Wildcats.

Last night was a different story.

“We just weren’t that tough in the UNH game,” Delaney-Smith said. “We were tough enough to come back in the second half, but then we relaxed on them. Maybe that was a good lesson to learn.”

“We really kept our composure towards the end,” Berry added. “I’m so proud that we came together and fought to the last.”

For Coach Delaney-Smith and the Crimson squad, Berry’s performance and leadership was a high point for the game and season.

“[Berry] is probably the best point guard I’ve ever coached, even as just a sophomore,” Delaney-Smith said. “She’s leading a team that’s still being created...and she’s just terrific in every regard.”

Berry is currently leading the Ivy League in average assists with 7.3 per game and had a game-high eight dishes against Northeastern.

The victory over the Huskies is the last game for Harvard before the 20-day break that precedes the final push towards the conference season.

“I definitely think it’s very helpful to go out on a win,” Berry said. “Now we can take this win, and have the chance to go into our break and work on the things we need to work on.”

—Staff writer B. Marjorie Gullick can be reached at gullick@college.harvard.edu