A firm monopoly on rebounds, coupled with scattered petty larceny, lifted Radcliffe's varsity basketball team to its first victory in three years over Jackson last night in the Indoor Athletic Building, 47-26.

Pivot Cheryl Geber's rebounds and guard Lissa Muscatine's steals gave Radcliffe constant control of the ball. "After the butterflies disappeared," coach John McCarthy said of his team's season opener, "they couldn't stop us."

The butterflies were all too evident as the game opened, as Radcliffe repeatedly missed easy shots and Jackson took an early lead. A see-saw battle ensued until the last three minutes of the half, when Radcliffe's shots began to find the range, and the Crimson reeled off five consecutive points for a 21-16 intermission lead.

Radcliffe continued its streak as the second half began, running the margin to 29-16 before the Jumbos could score.

Crimson Victory Sealed

An eight-point scoring streak later in the second half sparked by Denise Thal's fast breaks gave Radcliffe its largest lead, 41-22, and sealed the Crimson victory.

Thal led all scorers with 12 points, eight of them coming in the second half, and often on Muscatine's assists.

Neither Thal nor Muscatine figured in McCarthy's starting line-up. "We have eight or nine players who could start," McCarthy said. He has yet to decide on a permanent starting five.

In addition to a full-court press, McCarthy has instituted a 1-3-1 offense with two pivots, two wings, and a single guard. He says it is more efficient against the zone defenses Radcliffe usually faces.

"Jackson was not a bad team," McCarthy said, "but they had trouble with our press, and we had a distinct height advantage."

Starting guard Marsha Davenport was Radcliffe's second highest scorer, connecting for ten points. Wing Maude Wood contributed eight.

McCarthy said he thought last night's contest was an encouraging rehearsal for next weekend's six-team Ivy League tournament at Princeton. "After they settled down," he said, "everyone was dependable--especially on defense."