Harvard Storms Back From a 16-Point Deficit to Beat Columbia 68-64

Harvard women’s basketball delivered its biggest statement of the season at exactly the right time.

In its final game of the regular season, the Crimson (17-10, 10-4 Ivy League) erased a 16-point second-half deficit to defeat Columbia (20-7, 11-3 Ivy), which is receiving votes in the AP national poll, 68-64, Saturday afternoon at Levien Gymnasium.

The upset victory, Harvard’s most significant conference win of the year, avenged a heartbreaking last-second loss to the Lions earlier this season and gives the Crimson a major confidence boost heading into next weekend’s Ivy Madness tournament, where the conference’s top four teams will compete for the Ivy League’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

After suffering an injury in Harvard’s previous game and entering Saturday questionable to play, junior co-captain Karlee White delivered one of her most defining performances of the season, leading the Crimson comeback with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four steals.

Trailing 39-23 early in the second half, Harvard erupted for 29 points in the third quarter to tie the game, before closing the contest in the final minutes behind White’s 24-point performance.

Columbia controlled the opening quarter and jumped out to an early 8-0 lead before Harvard found its rhythm. Lion senior forward Susie Rafiu opened the scoring with a tip-in after grabbing her own miss, while senior guard Perri Page quickly established herself inside with multiple baskets in the paint.

The Crimson struggled offensively in the opening minutes, missing several layups and outside shots. White finally got Harvard on the board with a driving layup, and freshman guard Olivia Jones added a putback off an offensive rebound to prevent Columbia from extending its early run.

A jumper from senior forward Katie Krupa after a steal cut the deficit to just two possessions, but Columbia regained momentum late in the first quarter as junior guard Marija Avlijas knocked down a three. Harvard shot just 4-for-16 as Columbia took a 14-8 lead at the end of the quarter.

Jones briefly sparked the Crimson to start the second quarter, knocking down a three that trimmed Columbia’s lead to three points. Columbia responded immediately, however, with Page finishing a fastbreak layup.

The Lions stretched their advantage through Page’s interior scoring and aggressive defense. A four-point play from junior guard Riley Weiss, Columbia’s leading scorer this season and a First Team All-Ivy selection last year, pushed the Lions’ lead into double digits, though Harvard’s defense ultimately held the Ivy star to just 3-of-14 shooting from the field.

The Crimson found a few opportunities in transition, including a fastbreak layup by junior co-captain Abigail Wright, while White added two free throws late in the half. Still, Columbia maintained control and entered halftime with a 35-22 lead. Page led all scorers with 13 first-half points.

Columbia briefly extended its lead to its largest margin early in the third quarter when Page scored inside off a Rafiu assist, and Rafiu followed with a jumper that made it 39-23.

From there, the momentum shifted completely.

Harvard increased its defensive pressure and began forcing Columbia turnovers, igniting the Crimson’s offense. Wright converted free throws and scored inside to start the comeback, and Jones added a layup and free throw as Harvard steadily chipped away at the deficit.

White then ignited a major offensive surge. The junior guard drilled a three that cut the lead to five before repeatedly attacking the lane for baskets as Harvard’s offense caught fire.

The Crimson shot 9-for-13 in the quarter and outscored Columbia 29-16 in the quarter. Jones capped the run with a layup with four seconds remaining to tie the game at 51-51.

The fourth quarter opened with several empty possessions for both teams before Krupa hit two free throws to give Harvard its first lead of the afternoon. Columbia’s Weiss quickly answered with a jumper, and junior forward Hilke Feldrappe’s tip-in briefly put the Lions back in front.

Harvard responded with a decisive run. White scored back-to-back layups to push the Crimson ahead, and Harvard built a 61-56 lead midway through the quarter.

Columbia continued to battle behind Page, who scored inside and drew multiple trips to the free-throw line. However, senior guard Saniyah Glenn-Bello delivered a crucial offensive rebound and layup that extended Harvard’s lead to six.

White added two clutch free throws with eight seconds remaining to push the lead to four. Weiss hit a three with two seconds left, but the shot came too late to change the outcome.

Glenn-Bello sealed the victory, nailing two free throws in the closing seconds.

White finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four steals, leading Harvard’s comeback after a quiet first half. Glenn-Bello added 12 points and six assists, while Jones scored 11 points, including the game-tying basket at the end of the third quarter.

Page led all players with 25 points and eight rebounds, carrying much of Columbia’s offense throughout the afternoon.

Harvard’s defensive pressure proved decisive, forcing 23 turnovers, well above the Lions’ season average, many of them during the Crimson’s pivotal third-quarter surge. Harvard also dominated inside, scoring 40 points in the paint.

After Columbia controlled much of the first half, Harvard’s explosive second-half turnaround flipped the momentum and powered the Crimson to the road victory.

With the win, Harvard locked up the No. 3 seed in the Ivy League Tournament and will face No. 2 Columbia again in the semifinals next Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Ithaca, N.Y. The matchup will mark the 13th meeting between the two programs over the past four seasons and comes less than a week after the Crimson’s comeback victory in New York.

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

— Staff writer Natalia Howard Pagán can be reached at [email protected].