W. Cagers Remain Undefeated With Overtime Win, 101-86

PROVIDENCE--The Harvard women's basketball team has been coming from behind all season long, and it did so again last night in the unfriendly confines of Brown's Paul Bailey Pizzitola Memorial Sports Center, here in Providence.

Amidst chants of "Defense" and other cheers too profane to print, the Crimson (11-6 Overall, 6-0 Ivy) stormed back from a 16-point deficit with 10 minutes remaining in the game to tie the contest, 77-77, at the end of regulation. Harvard then poured in a 24-point overtime effort to crush the Bears (14-5, 5-2), 101-86, and silence the Brown faithfuls.

"We have worked really hard at being a good comeback team," said Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney Smith. "We have tremendous pride and a determination to win. We controlled the momentum and we did it with defense. We have enough scorers to know that with 10 minutes to go, and down 14 points, it's anybody's game."

Junior guard Maura Healey opened the overtime deluge with a three-pointer to put the Crimson ahead 80-77. After senior forward Jen Mazanec fouled out with only 40 seconds into the period, the Crimson outshot and outhustled the Bears the rest of the way. Sophomore guard Erin Maher converted three three-pointers in the overtime session, her last trey icing the game, 93-82.

It became clear early on that Brown would pose the greatest outside scoring threat that the Crimson has faced all year when Brown's Michelle Pagliaro nailed a three-pointer just two minutes into the game.

But Harvard's long-range bombers were ready to match Brown's perimeter attack. Healey answered back with two consecutive treys of her own and sparked a 12-0 Crimson run. Two Mazanec layups and a jumper by Debbie Flandermeyer in the paint capped off the streak, put Harvard ahead, 16-5, and forced Brown to call its second timeout of the game at only the 15:46 mark.

Brown stormed back, however, rattling off six straight points, including another Pagliaro three-pointer to pull within five, 16-11. Harvard held the Bears at bay through much of the first half, but soft play in the middle hurt the Crimson. Harvard pulled down only ten boards in the first half.

With 5:30 remaining in the half, Pagliaro's third three of the game cut the Harvard advantage to 32-30. Twenty seconds later Brown tied the game. The contest was deadlocked at 43-43 at intermission. Harvard shot 60 percent from the field and 78 percent from the line, but the Bears went into the locker room with the momentum in their favor.

Co-Captain Beth Wambach opened the second half with her second three-pointer of the game, but Brown picked up where it left off in the first half. The Bears responded with 11 straight points to pull ahead, 54-46, forcing the Crimson to call a timeout at the 15:20 mark.

Brown rattled off eight more pionts before Mazanec hit a layup, Harvard's first bucket in nearly seven minutes. The Bears extended their lead to 14 points by the 11-minute mark.

It looked like time for Harvard to start warming up the bus, but Harvard made another run, cutting the lead to 68-61 on a Maher three-pointer. A Healey driving layup and Co-Captain Dina Hadrick's steal and conversion made it a one-point game, 70-69, with four minutes to go.

"We knew they were an outstanding three-point shooting team," Brown Coach Jean Marie Burr said. "I think they did a nice job sinking the three in pressure situations." Crimson, 101-86 (OT) in Providence HARVARD  43-34-24--101 Brown  43-34-9--86

HARVARD (101): Beth Wambach 5-11 4-5 16; Jen Mazanec 10-14 2-3 22; Deb Flandermeyer 6-11 0-1 12; Maura Healey 4-8 4-4 15; Heidi Kosh 0-2 0-0 0; Dina Hadrick 3-5 2-2 8; Heather Harris 4-6 2-4 10; Erin Maher 5-8 3-4 18; Kim Seidel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 37-65 17-23 101

BROWN (86): Shonica Tunstall 8-11 0-0 16; Margaret Fucha 7-13 7-11 21; Kathleen Hill 3-7 1-3 7; Janet Firlings 6-15 4-9 16; Michelle Paguard 3-10 3-5 9; Shelly Weaver 4-7 0-0 10; Elaine Harper 2-7 1-2 7; Heather Dietz 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 33-70 16-30-86

Three-pointers: Maher 5, Healey 3, Wambach 2; Paguard 2, Weaver 2, Harper. Rebounds: Harvard 45 (Falndermeyer 12); Brown 39 (Firlings 9). Assists: Harvard 23 (Healey 9); Brown 24 (Paguard, Weaver 5). Steals: Harvard 10 (Wambach 4); Brown 11 (Paguard 5). Blocks: Harvard 6 (Flandermeyer 3); Brown 3 (Fuchs 3). Fouled Out: Flandermeyer, Mazanec. Total Fouls: Harvard 22; Brown 19. Turnovers: Harvard 24; Brown 17.

Attendance: 930

HARVARD (101): Beth Wambach 5-11 4-5 16; Jen Mazanec 10-14 2-3 22; Deb Flandermeyer 6-11 0-1 12; Maura Healey 4-8 4-4 15; Heidi Kosh 0-2 0-0 0; Dina Hadrick 3-5 2-2 8; Heather Harris 4-6 2-4 10; Erin Maher 5-8 3-4 18; Kim Seidel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 37-65 17-23 101

BROWN (86): Shonica Tunstall 8-11 0-0 16; Margaret Fucha 7-13 7-11 21; Kathleen Hill 3-7 1-3 7; Janet Firlings 6-15 4-9 16; Michelle Paguard 3-10 3-5 9; Shelly Weaver 4-7 0-0 10; Elaine Harper 2-7 1-2 7; Heather Dietz 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 33-70 16-30-86

Three-pointers: Maher 5, Healey 3, Wambach 2; Paguard 2, Weaver 2, Harper. Rebounds: Harvard 45 (Falndermeyer 12); Brown 39 (Firlings 9). Assists: Harvard 23 (Healey 9); Brown 24 (Paguard, Weaver 5). Steals: Harvard 10 (Wambach 4); Brown 11 (Paguard 5). Blocks: Harvard 6 (Flandermeyer 3); Brown 3 (Fuchs 3). Fouled Out: Flandermeyer, Mazanec. Total Fouls: Harvard 22; Brown 19. Turnovers: Harvard 24; Brown 17.

Attendance: 930