Women's Basketball
A Lavietes Legend Retires: Kathy Delaney-Smith, Coach of the Year
In 40 seasons as Harvard's women's basketball coach, Kathy Delaney-Smith racked up 630 victories, 11 Ivy League championships, and six NCAA Tournament appearances. Her team culture was built through camaraderie and trust, leading her to become the all-time winningest basketball coach, male or female, in conference history.
With a Record of Building Tournament Teams, Carrie Moore Plans to Bring Women’s Basketball Back to March
As soon as Harvard Head Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith announced this past fall that she would be retiring after 40 years at the University, Carrie Moore set her “heart and eyes” on the position. Moore had just coached her first game as an assistant at the University of Michigan, but she had wanted to be a head coach since she worked at basketball camps in college, and the job she describes as the best in the country was always at the back of her mind.
Come Together
Harvard women's basketball participates in Crimson Madness for its season opener on March 15, 2021. Team will now be led by Carrie Moore after over 40 years under the helm of Head Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith.
Women's Basketball Season Ends in Heartbreak as it Falls to Princeton in Ivy Madness, 72-67
For the third time this season, Harvard (13-14, 7-7) fell to No. 24 Princeton (25-5, 14-0). Unlike the two previous contests, this Ivy Madness matchup was a barn burner, with both offenses excelling in the clutch. The Crimson rallied late but ran out of gas, losing by a score of 72-67 in its final game of head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith's remarkable career.
All Forbes One, One Forbes All
Junior guard McKenzie Forbes lays the ball in in a 99-75 victory over Merrimack on Nov. 30, 2021. The first weekend of Spring Break, Forbes' 22 points were not enough to lead the Crimson to victory.
Women's Basketball Clinches Spot in Ivy League Tournament After Splitting a Pair of Weekend Games
The Crimson (13-13, 7-7) traveled to Hanover, N.H. to square off against the Big Green (3-23, 2-12) in a must win game to keep their Ivy Madness hopes alive. Harvard responded to the pressure in dominant fashion, crushing their conference rivals by a 33-point margin.
Harvard Women’s Basketball Falls to Ivy League Rivals Columbia and Cornell in Difficult Road Trip
As Harvard women’s basketball (12-12, 6-6) continued down the home stretch of its regular season this past weekend, a pair of road matchups with the Columbia Lions (19-4, 10-1) and Cornell Big Red (9-13, 4-7) presented key opportunities for the Crimson to solidify its spot in the Ivy League women’s basketball tournament in March. On Friday night, Harvard traded baskets in a competitive, high-scoring affair with Columbia before losing, 74-70. The Crimson was then unable to repeat its 42-point victory over Cornell on January 22, falling to the Big Red on Saturday night, 52-49.
Women's Basketball Falls Short in Overtime, 87-78, After Furious Rally Against Penn
Much like its previous meeting against Penn (9-12, 4-5 Ivy League), Harvard (12-10, 6-4) fell down by a wide margin early and staged a furious late rally in the pivotal conference matchup at Lavietes Pavilion on Saturday. However, the Crimson was unable to replicate the successful comeback it made on Jan. 29, eventually falling to the Quakers in overtime by a score of 87-78.
Harmoni and Melody
First-year guard Harmoni Turner dribbles up the court in a 99-75 victory over Merrimack on Nov. 30. On Saturday, Turner dropped 23 points in the Crimson's comeback attempt against Penn.
Women's Basketball Earns Critical Pair of Conference Victories
After notching three consecutive wins over Ivy League opponents, Harvard women’s basketball returned to Lavietes Pavilion this past weekend in triumphant fashion. On Friday night, the Crimson (12-9, 6-3 Ivy League) earned a hard-fought 77-73 victory over the Brown Bears (5-15, 0-8). The following night, Harvard treated its large home crowd to a 65-59 win over the Yale Bulldogs (13-8, 6-3), extending the Crimson’s winning streak to a season-best five games.
Maggie in Her Baggie
Junior guard Maggie McCarthy dribbles up the court in a 99-75 victory over Merrimack on Nov. 30. McCarthy contributed 14 points and 14 rebounds over the course of the conference wins this past weekend.
Harvard Women’s Basketball Mounts Late Comeback to Extend Win Streak
Despite trailing by as much as 13 points late in the contest, Harvard women’s basketball (10-9, 4-3 Ivy League) completed a furious fourth quarter comeback to notch a 70-63 victory over conference foe Penn (7-11, 2-4). The victory marked the Crimson’s first win at the Quakers’ home venue, The Palestra, since 2012.
Harvard Women’s Basketball Storms Past Big Red, Gears Up for Core of Ivy League Schedule
After cruising past Dartmouth (1-16, 0-5 Ivy League) earlier in the week 96-62, Harvard women’s basketball (9-9, 3-3) turned in yet another dominant performance last Saturday over conference foe Cornell Big Red (6-10, 1-4), winning the matchup 89-47 under the bright lights of Lavietes Pavilion.
Forbes 30 Under 30
Junior guard McKenzie Forbes shoots a three-pointer in a 99-75 victory over Merrimack on Nov. 30. Forbes added 16 in the blowout win over Cornell.
Harvard Women’s Basketball Drops a Pair of Weekend Games in Arizona State Classic
After lighting up Lavietes Pavilion for an impressive home victory last Tuesday over Merrimack College, Harvard women’s basketball journeyed to Tempe, Ariz., last weekend to face two tough opponents in the Arizona State Classic. While the Crimson fell to the Rams of Colorado State (7-1) by a close score of 59-52, the Crimson ran into a high-powered, athletic Arizona State Sun Devils (5-4) squad the following day, losing 91-54.
Harmoni Turner's Turn
First-year guard Harmoni Turner and the Crimson huddle up in a home victory with Merrimack last Tuesday. Harvard was unable to carry this momentum with it on the road, as it lost a pair of games in the Arizona State Classic.
Women’s Basketball Routs Merrimack in High-Scoring Home Showdown
After splitting its pair of games during the week of Thanksgiving, the Crimson returned to the hardwood Tuesday night with a resounding 99-75 victory over the Warriors of Merrimack College.
Making the Forbes List
Junior guard McKenzie Forbes drives to the basket in Tuesday’s win against Merrimack. Forbes, who made a game-winning shot in Harvard’s 82-79 win over Boston University on Saturday, followed up the late-game heroics with a team-high 23 points on Tuesday
In Photos: Crimson Madness Returns
The return of Harvard Crimson basketball competition at Lavietes Pavilion for the first time since pre-pandemic kicked off on Oct. 15 as both the men’s and women’s programs battled their teammates in two intrasquad scrimmages following an assortment of pre-game activities and food.