W. Cagers Smite Smith

The Harvard women's basketball team faced two obstacles before yesterday's game in North Hampton: a hungry Smith squad and the potential for a letdown.

The Crimson may have been more worried about the second than the first. After all, Harvard had just concluded a two-upset, one-Boston Four championship weekend over Thanksgiving.

But the Crimson, thanks to Heidi Kosh's 17 points and Barb Keffer's 12, managed to overcome both obstacles en route to a 95-50 victory over the Smithies.

"I'm thrilled about the win," Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney Smith said. "I was afraid of a letdown after the big weekend. I got to play everyone."

And everyone--save sophomore Val Allen--scored, too.

"It will get us ready for Rice, who comes in on Thursday," Delaney Smith said of the Crimson's home opener tomorrow.

Net Offense

Harvard cruised to a 52-24 halftime lead and had no problem hanging on for its third victory of the year against no losses.

Senior guard Coleen Lahart led Smith with 14 points and Nancy Satchwill added eight, but those outputs barely put a dent in the Crimson's defensive armor.

And Harvard's offense saw four players--Kosh, Keffer, Sharon Hayes and Dina Hadrick--score in double-figures. Six more chipped in at least six points.

Hayes, who sunk a trio of three-pointers and a free throw for 10 points, sits only three points away from the 1,000-point mark.