Freshman Lippert Does It All for Harvard Offense

While the Crimson soundly defeated Maine yesterday, Harvard coach Kathy Delaney-Smith struggled to find a high point in her team’s play—that is, other than the play of freshman guard Victoria Lippert.

“She was the only bright star in tonight’s game,” Delaney-Smitoh said. “I have little to no criticisms about what she did.”

Lippert was Harvard’s leading scorer in the 72-56 victory, putting up 24 points in as many minutes of playing time and shooting 83 percent from the floor.

“She’s definitely a scorer,” junior co-captain Christine Matera said. “I mean she was just too strong for the other team. Anything she wanted she got.”

Lippert had her way against the Black Bears from three-point territory. In the first half alone, the freshman sank three shots from afar, more than Maine’s entire roster in all 40 minutes.

The Crimson’s coach recognized Lippert’s impressive 80 percent efficiency from behind the arc, but also pointed out the freshman’s versatility.

“She can hit threes, but she can also take it to the basket,” Delaney-Smith said. “There was that one move where she stepped in and made the shot with [her left hand] from eight or nine feet out. I mean that’s a good move for a freshman.”

But when it came to recognizing her own accomplishments, Lippert was much more reserved.

“I’m just very humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to come out and perform,” Lippert said.

Continuing with her modesty, the rookie stressed the role of her surroundings in contributing to her success thus far.

“It definitely wouldn’t be possible without our coaches, and teammates, and the people around me,” Lippert said. “I’m very blessed to be here and to be able to do the things I can do.”

In fact, the staff and players that make up Harvard’s program were what convinced the freshman to come to Cambridge instead of heading to Pac-10 power Stanford.

“I came to Harvard because I love the people here,” Lippert said. “There’s a really good environment and I’m just having a ball with the team.”

Her teammates reciprocate the appreciation, praising the performances Lippert has been able to produce in her short Harvard career thus far.

“She’s played well, and that’s not unexpected,” Matera said. “ We’ve seen it all through the preseason and we expect her to keep stepping up.”

Her performance in this game continued a pattern she established straight from the get-go.

Lippert started in the team’s exhibition games and the season-opener last Saturday against Boston College. In the nail-biting victory for the Crimson, she contributed 14 points and four rebounds.

“Victoria is just flat-out a player, in every regard,” Delaney-Smith said. “She’s serious about her basketball, she’s very intense, she’s very competitive, and she’s very talented.”

While Lippert was timid in pointing out her own achievements last night, she had no problem making clear Harvard’s goals for the season.

“This year we’re going for title 12,” the freshman said after last night’s win. “I think that’s definitely achievable and we’re going to work really hard to continue coming together as a unit in order to accomplish that.”

If her early play is any indication, Lippert is destined to be a key part of any of the Crimson’s future success this season.