Harvard’s Season Ends in Heartbreaking 64-61 Overtime Loss to Wisconsin

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Harvard women’s basketball’s postseason run came to a heartbreaking end on Thursday night as the Crimson fell to Wisconsin, 64-61, in an overtime battle in the WBIT quarterfinals.

In a game defined by physicality, shifting momentum, and tight scoring, Harvard (20-12, 10-4 Ivy) looked ready to advance after leading by as many as eight with under a minute remaining in regulation. However, the Badgers (16-17, 5-13 Big Ten) closed on a stunning 7-0 run to force overtime and ultimately seal the win.

Junior captain Abigail Wright capped off her dominant junior season with a team-high 18 points on eight-of-16 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds and three assists, recording her fifth career double-double. Junior captain Karlee White added 16 points of her own, including four three-pointers, while the Ivy League Rookie of the Year Olivia Jones, senior guard Saniyah Glenn Bello, and senior forward Katie Krupa each had nine.

From the opening tip, the game was a battle. Wisconsin leaned on its size advantage early, repeatedly feeding senior forward Gift Uchenna inside, while Harvard countered with aggressive, high-pressure defense that disrupted the Badgers’ rhythm. The Crimson’s defensive intensity, ranked among the nation’s best, was evident immediately, forcing rushed possessions and even multiple airballs in the first quarter.

Still, Wisconsin held a narrow 14-11 lead after one quarter. Harvard took over in the second quarter. Sparked by Wright’s presence in the paint and White’s perimeter shooting, the Crimson erupted on a dominant run, at one point outscoring the Badgers 12-0. Wright controlled the interior with strong footwork and second-chance finishes, while Jones added a coast-to-coast jumper and a three-pointer to help fuel the surge.

However, Wisconsin answered immediately. Uchenna, who finished the half with 12 points on six-of-seven shooting, powered the Badgers back into the game, tying it at 26-26 by halftime in what had become a rapid game of runs.

The back and forth continued into the second half.

Neither team led by more than a possession for most of the third quarter, with 11 lead changes reflecting just how evenly matched the two sides were. Wright continued to anchor Harvard offensively, attacking downhill and converting through contact. White knocked down a clutch three to reclaim the lead, but Wisconsin’s interior presence, again led by Uchenna, kept the Badgers within reach.

The Crimson entered the fourth quarter clinging to a 39-38 edge.

Harvard appeared to take control early in the final quarter. Back-to-back threes from White and Glenn-Bello stretched the lead, and strong defensive possessions, including tightened coverage on Uchenna, limited Wisconsin’s easiest looks. When White converted a floater and Krupa knocked down two free throws, Harvard held a seven-point lead with under a minute to play. At this point, ESPN Analytics projected a 99.9 percent win probability.

Then everything unraveled.

The Badgers’ junior guard Kyrah Daniels, who finished with 15 points and 5 three-pointers, hit a deep triple to spark the comeback. Moments later, a lead led to a transition layup, and suddenly the deficit was just two. After a jump ball gave possession back to Wisconsin, senior guard Destiny Howell tied the game with a late layup, completing a 7-0 run and sending the game to overtime at 56 apiece.

In overtime, the intensity only increased.

Krupa briefly gave the Crimson the lead with a step-back jumper, and Wright answered inside to keep Harvard in front. However, the Badgers again had the final response. A late layup gave Wisconsin the lead, and after a controversial no-call on a potential foul against Wright in the closing seconds, Howell sealed the game at the free-throw line.

Harvard committed 18 turnovers, a factor that proved costly in a game where every possession mattered. Still, the Crimson showed its identity throughout, with relentless defense, balanced scoring, and resilience against a physically imposing opponent.

Ultimately, Wisconsin delivered the final blow, ending Harvard’s season in dramatic fashion, leaving a foundation the Crimson will carry into next season.

—Staff writer Tamar H. Scheinfeld can be reached at [email protected].