BLOOMINGTON, IN – Harvard women’s basketball (2-0, 0-0 Ivy) recorded its first top 25 victory of the Carrie Moore era, dropping No. 25 Indiana (1-1, 0-0 Big Ten) in overtime, 72-68. With the victory, the Crimson snapped the Hoosiers 18-game home winning streak.
Inside a packed Assembly Hall, the Crimson shot 40.9% from the field, forced 27 turnovers, and were led by a 24-point performance from senior guard, Harmoni Turner.
How it Happened
Harvard took immediate control in the contest breaking out to a 12-2 lead on the back of an eight-point burst from Elena Rodriguez. The Crimson locked down the Hoosiers for the entirety of the opening frame, holding the foe to single digit points. Indiana got off just seven shot attempts, only converting on a pair, and totaled 11 turnovers to allow Harvard to cruise out to 21-7 advantage 10 minutes into the match up.
Floaterrrr
The Crimson strike first as Elena connects at the end of the shot clock??
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— Harvard Women’s Basketball (@HarvardWBB) November 8, 2024
The Hoosiers used the second frame to pull themselves back into the contest, shooting 41.2% from the field to outscore the Crimson by double digits and pull within a possession heading into the locker room. Despite Indiana’s surge in the quarter, the Crimson remained ahead, 32-30, at the conclusion of the half.
Indiana got its first taste of a lead to open the second half, scoring the first four points to take a 34-32 advantage. The Crimson, however, responded as its three-point presence came to life. Following an Rodriguez bucket, Harvard rattled off three triples from three separate players to power an 11-0 scoring run. As free throws from the Hoosiers halted the Crimson streak, Indiana went on its own push, eventually overtaking the lead with a minute remaining. The Crimson continued to respond with each Hoosier lead as Karlee White connected from distance with 40 seconds left in the frame to once again put Harvard in front, 48-46.
Crowd silencer.
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— Harvard Women’s Basketball (@HarvardWBB) November 8, 2024
The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair as the lead changed hands on seven different occasions. Indiana held onto a lead beginning at the 4:09 mark all the way until the final 20 seconds of regulation but were never able to create distance larger than two possessions. Turner connected on a pull-up jumper with 1:15 left on the clock to pull within two and a 1-of-2 trip to the line for Indiana allowed the Crimson to still be within one bucket of tying. Out of a timeout first-year Alayna Rocco launched from deep, swishing the clutch wing triple to force overtime.
CLUTCH.
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— Harvard Women’s Basketball (@HarvardWBB) November 8, 2024
Turner quickly gave the Crimson the advantage in the extra time, connecting on a tough drive to the rim and then grabbing her sixth steal and finishing on the other end to put Harvard up 67-63. Once the Crimson took the lead early in the frame, it never again relinquished it. Mona Zaric, who joined Harvard from the Hoosiers a season ago, contributed four out of the nine Harvard overtime points including the game solidifying free throws with two seconds remaining.
Harmoni Turner everyone
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— Harvard Women’s Basketball (@HarvardWBB) November 8, 2024
Harvard Highlights
- The victory over an AP Top 25 opponent marks the first of the Carrie Moore era and just the second for the Crimson in the last 25 years.
- The Crimson defeat of the Hoosiers snapped Indiana’s 18-game home streak that checked in at the ninth longest home win streak in the country.
- Harmoni Turner led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting. The senior also added four rebounds, a team-high four assists, one block, and a season-best six steals.
Defense??Offense
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— Harvard Women’s Basketball (@HarvardWBB) November 8, 2024
- Elena Rodriguez posted another strong performance, adding 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Elena Rodriguez is feeling good?????
The senior connects on the first eight points including back-to-back triples!
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— Harvard Women’s Basketball (@HarvardWBB) November 8, 2024
- Alayna Rocco added a career-high nine points including hitting the game-tying triple near the end of regulation to force overtime.
- In her return to Assembly Hall, Mona Zaric registered eight points, including a pair of game sealing free throw, three rebounds, a block, and a steal.
Mona Zaric knows a thing or two about playing in Assembly Hall??
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— Harvard Women’s Basketball (@HarvardWBB) November 8, 2024
- As a team, the Crimson shot 40.9% (27-of-66) from the field and 33.3% (8-of-24) from distance.
- Harvard was once again led by its defense, notching 14 steals, forcing 27 turnovers, and converting for 32 points off takeaways. The Hoosiers 27 turnovers marked their most since 2018.
Steal and score to put the Crimson back up double digits??
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— Harvard Women’s Basketball (@HarvardWBB) November 8, 2024
- The win marks Harvard’s first ever victory over Indiana and just the third for the program against a Big Ten opponent.
Next Up
Harvard will remain on the road, traveling to Quinnipiac on Sunday, November 10. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. in M&T Bank Arena and on ESPN+.
