W. Cagers Dump Hawks Behind Maher, Wambach, Healy Three-Pointers, 85-68

Call it modest, but it's still a winning streak.

The Harvard women's basketball team captured its second straight victory yesterday with a 85-68 romp over Hartford at the Civic Center in Hartford. The Crimson (2-3) shot a sizzling 52 percent from the field and pumped in seven three-point jumpers en route to the win.

Harvard jumped out to an early 10-2 lead and went into the locker room with a comfortable margin, 41-25. Hartford (1-4) refused to die in the second half, however, chipping away at Harvard's lead and pulling to within two points, 46-44.

But freshman center Debbie Flandermeyer's three-point play boosted the lead to five again. Sophomore guard Maura Healy followed with a three-point shot, and the Crimson had its second victory of the season.

"I think because of our youth, this was a very important win," Coach Kathy Delaney Smith said.

Offense was the name of the game for Harvard. The Crimson shot the lights out in the first half, hitting 58 percent from the field. The team cooled a bit in the second half, but the three-point jumpers continued to fall and the team shot a strong 74 percent from the free throw line for the game. Five players scored in double figures.

Junior guard Beth Wambach and senior forward Sandy Springer led the Crimson with 15 points each. Springer got her points in the paint while Wambach launched from the perimeter, hitting two three point shots. Healy sunk three threes to finish with 14 points and freshman guard Erin Maher added two treys to finish with 14 points, as well.

Once again, the bomb squad came to play.

"Our three-point shooting was on today," Wambach said. "And Erin's three pointers were timely."

Harvard has been living and dying by the three-point shot this season, but the Crimson complemented its perimeter game with strong inside play against the Hawks. Senior forward Jody Fink scored 10 points, rounding out Harvard's top five scorers and combining with Springer to anchor the frontline.

"We were able to get the ball inside very quickly and effectively, and that opened up the outside," Fink said.

While the offense stole the show, the defense--still trying to master a new system--played extremely well. The Crimson held Hartford to 35 percent shooting from the field and pounded the boards, outrebounding Hartford, 52-32. Harvard pulled down 18 offensive rebounds.

"[The defense] just clicked today," Wambach said. "We forced turnovers and frustrated them."

The one weak spot for the Crimson was turnovers. Harvard coughed the ball up an unbelievably high 34 times, including 17 steals by the Hawks. But that's nothing new for a young and inexperienced team, and hopes are that the offense can continue to dominate while the team smoothes out its rough edges.

THE NOTEBOOK: Harvard hosts the University of Vermont Catamounts Saturday at Briggs Cage at 7:30 p.m.

Crimson, 85-68 at Hartford Hartford  25-43--68 HARVARD  41-44--85

HARTFORD (68): Karen Ball 1-0--2; Betsy Anderson 3-6--12; Annette Flynn 3-2--8; Maura Rodgers 7-0--14; Trish Slocum 2-2--6; Dacia DeAngelis 2-1--5; Eva Esposito 5-0--10; Lisa Smith 5-2--13.

Totals: 27-76 13-17 68

HARVARD (85): Jen Mazanec 2-0--4; Jody Fink 3-4--10; Sandy Springer 7-1--15; Maura Healey 5-3--14; Beth Wambach 5-3--15; Dina Hadrick 2-0--4; Erin Maher 3-6--14; Liz Berkery 0-2--2; Deb Flandermeyer 2-1--5.

Totals: 30-58 20-27 85

Three-pointers: Smith; Healey 3, Wambach 2, Maher 2. Rebounds: Hartford 32 (Flynn 8); Harvard 52 (Wambach 9). Assists: Hartford (Slocum 8); Harvard 20 (Wambach 7). Steals: Hartford 17 (Anderson 5); Harvard 7 (Wambach, Hadrick 2). Blocked Shots: Hartford 2 (Anderson, Slocum); Harvard 1 (Flandermeyer). Turnovers: Hartford 18, Harvard 34.

Attandance: 263.