W. Hoops Battles Crosstown Foe

Before the Harvard women's basketball team heads home for the holidays, it has some work to do. Its assignment, however, is not academic.

The Crimson (7-1) takes to the hardwood tonight to do battle with Northeastern at Cabot Gym before heading south for the winter to face South Carolina and Wofford at the end of the week. These three contests will close out Harvard's pre-Ivy season and prep the squad for its Ivy opener on Saturday, January 3rd, at home versus Dartmouth.

The Crimson cannot afford to look forward to the Big Green, though. A loss to any of its three upcoming foes could spoil an otherwise successful early season for Harvard.

The Crimson is off to its best start in 10 seasons. It has a chance to record the best record in the history of Harvard women's basketball if it can sweep its three games over the break. Reaching such a monumental goal will be easier if Harvard continues the hot shooting streak it displayed in its last two contests.

Harvard converted just under 50 percent of its shots over its last two games and its averaging 71 points per game for the year. More importantly, the Crimson has dominated its opponents on the boards and has continued its stingy defensive efforts, giving up fewer than 60 points per contest.

Senior co-captain Allison Feaster is leading the way for Harvard with an unbelievable season. Feaster is currently ranked third in the nation in scoring with a 29.1 points per game average. She is also pulling down 10.9 rebounds and recording 3.2 steals per game.

The trip to South Carolina should be special for Feaster, who is a native of Chester, S.C. It will be the first opportunity for the All-American forward to play in front of her home-town fans since she came to the Bay State.

Priority number one for the Crimson, however, is doing away with the Huskies tonight. Northeastern holds a 8-7 lead in the all-time series record between the teams, but Harvard has won the last three meetings by an average margin of 12 points.

While Harvard has never faced South Carolina or Wofford before this year, uncertainty should not reduce the Crimson's intensity. Harvard is determined to sweep its games in December, and Feaster surely wants her teammates to return to Cambridge with fond memories of her home state.