Women’s Basketball Downs Yale in Ivy League Opener

Harvard women’s basketball (12-1, 1-0 Ivy) won its opening game of Ivy League play on the road against Yale (1-13, 0-1 Ivy) on Saturday in an uncharacteristically scrappy game that ended in a commanding 61-43 victory. The win marked the best start in the program since the 2016-17 season and Harvard now holds the best overall record in the Ivy League.

The victory also extended Harvard’s win streak to 9 games, having missed its last game of non-conference play after the University of Delaware canceled its matchup with the Crimson just a few days before at the end of December.

Junior captain Katie Krupa wrote in a text after the game that the win was exciting for the team and a positive start to conference play.

“We approached this game as if it was the start of a new season,” Krupa wrote. “We went in with the mentality we were 0-0, so that naturally applied some added pressure to the game.”

“Also, the Ivy League is a tough league,” she added. “After playing each other the past three years, we all know each other so well, so any win is difficult and worth celebrating.”

Still, the Crimson played only twice in December, with its most recent game being two weeks prior to Yale. The time off undoubtedly affected the Crimson, which displayed rusty shooting first half against an ostensibly much weaker Yale team.

Both offenses struggled mightily out the gate, each shooting under 30% in the first period. After three minutes of action, Yale took an early 3-0 lead from the charity stripe. Three Harvard players — freshman Lydia Chatira, junior Saniyah Glenn-Bello, and senior Elena Rodriguez — had to be subbed off for nearly the entirety of the half after picking up two fouls apiece in the first quarter.

Krupa played the role of super sub, resuscitating the flailing Crimson offense by scoring seven in Harvard’s 9-2 run, gaining its first lead of the new year. Krupa displayed her vast array of post moves and perimeter shooting, helping Harvard jump to a 13-9 lead after one.

Harvard’s shooting woes continued, putting up a 9-for-34 field goal mark in the first half. Star senior guard Harmoni Turner, in the midst of a historic season for the Crimson, seemed unable to find her footing against intense defensive pressure, managing only six points in the half.

Krupa continued to carry the Crimson, scoring 11 of the team’s 24 points in the first half and a team-leading 16 overall. Krupa’s performance was her best of the season and helped fuel the Crimson to a 24-18 lead at halftime.

“We needed it,” said Harvard women's basketball head coach Carrie Moore of Krupa’s performance. “She really answered the call."

"She’s proven that she can play really well against this league,” Moore added.

In the third quarter, the Crimson came out roaring. Harvard’s effective use of traps and a full court press left the Bulldogs stunned and looking for answers. The Crimson used their defensive adjustments to ignite an astounding 20-0 run, putting the game out of reach.

Yale’s inexperienced team full of freshman starters were unable to adjust to Harvard finding its footing for much of the period. Finally after seven minutes, Yale broke past the Harvard press for a basket but by then the Bulldogs efforts were futile.

The Krupa show carried over to the fourth quarter with the big dominating in the post and taking defenders off the dribble for easy layups. Yale closed the quarter on an 11-2 run, reaching our final score of 61-43.

Moore said in an interview with ESPN+ after the game that she was proud of her team regardless of the weaker moments in the first half.

“A win is a win,” Moore said “It doesn’t matter what it looked like at the end of the game.”

Harvard’s resilient second-half performance surely dusted off some cobwebs, but the road ahead demands greater precision and determination.

Next Saturday, the Crimson face their toughest battle yet against the five-time reigning Ivy League champion Princeton Tigers. The matchup will have massive implications for Ivy Madness with both teams looking to send an early message of dominance.

—Staff writer Oscar E. Mercado can be reached at oscar.mercado@thecrimson.com.