February may be the shortest calendar month, but it is not lacking in the big-game department. Here is a look at some of the games that could make or break seasons for squads with big postseason aspirations.

The Harvard women’s basketball team topped Columbia, 68-56, on the road, despite its two top scorers combining to shoot 5 for 21.

Harvard put the past in the past and managed to retake a comfortable lead, pulling out the victory over the Big Red, 67-57, Friday night at Newman Arena in Ithaca, N.Y.

After suffering back-to-back narrow losses, the Harvard women’s basketball team never trailed against Brown Sunday afternoon at Lavietes Pavilion. Despite a series of late-game scares, the Crimson (9-8, 2-1 Ivy) moved back above .500 with a 65-57 victory.

For the second time in as many games, the Harvard women’s basketball team found itself down three in the final moments. And once again, the Crimson couldn’t come through, this time falling to Yale, 68-63.

Although the Harvard women’s basketball team already played its first Ivy League game of the year against Dartmouth on Jan. 14, this weekend marks the official opening weekend of Ancient Eight play.

Down 60-57, sophomore Christine Clark threw up a three-pointer after a quick transition up the court with five seconds left on the clock. But the shot did not fall, giving North Dakota (9-9) the victory over the Crimson (8-7, 1-0 Ivy) Tuesday night at Lavietes Pavilion.

In its first game of Ivy League play, the Harvard women’s basketball team trumped its old Ancient Eight rival Dartmouth, 71-63.

2011 was a big year in Harvard athletics. Women’s soccer captured its third Ivy League championship in four years. The ...