The Crimson women cagers were all hit and polish in last night's exciting victory over Springfiled College, 83-78.

Fresh and confident from their first win Monday against Southeastern Massachusetts, the Crimson hoopsters displayed poise. hustle, and pinpoint shooting to dump a strong Springfield team and boost their season's record to 2-5.

Fast Break

The game got off to a fast start as the Crimson and the Chiefs traded break-away layups. and the pace never slackened.

The cagers stayed with a man-to-man defense for most of the game, while Springfiled's zone defense gave Harvard numerous opportunities to drive inside for the score.

"We wrecked their zone defense," Crimson coach Carol Kleinfelder said after the game.

The key to Harvard's high-scoring offense in the first half was 5-ft., 11-in. sophomore Karen Smith, who positioned herself beneath the basket and banked one layup after another, scoring 21 points before the first half buzzer sounded at 48-39 Harvard.

Another sophomore, 6-ft., 1-in. center Elaine Holpuch, who has had trouble scoring this year after leading the squad offensively last season, took over Smith's post in the second half and tirelessly pumped in the chippies, as the cagers firmly gripped a ten-point lead.

Breathless

After ten minutes of breathless back and forth scoring did not change the tenpoint gap between the squads, the Springfiled coach called a time out. Chanthing "boards, boards, boards" like an obsessed pre-law adviser, the Springfiled coach unleashed an inspired Chiefs team that systematically narrowed Harvard's lead, closing to withing four points with 1:18 left to play.

Fierce rebounding by Smith and good hustle by freshman sensation Nancy Boutillier kept the Crimson on top and sealed the dramatic victory.

Although Kleinfelder got consistent shooting from Smith, Holpuch, co-captain Caryn Curry, and Freshmen guns Boutillier and Franessa Hall, defense continues as the pivotal factor in the cager's success or failure. Harvard outrebounded the Chiefs 45-29, but each team allowed the opposition a variety of inside shots.

All in all, though, the cagers looked the strongest and most confident they have this season.

"You see, we can play much better when we're relaxed. Knowing we can win a game takes away a lot of the pressure," Holpuch said after the game.

As the Crimson hoopsters marched off the floor to the cheerful din of the Harvard marching band, they were already looking confidently toward their next contest.