Time is running out on the "early season jitters" excuse. The winless women's basketball team last night dropped its fourth game in a row, this time to UNH, 66-48, at the Wildcats' den in Durham.

Playing listlessly, the cagers fell behind 48-24 at the half and allowed the Wildcats to glide easily through the final 20 minutes. The hoopsters sorely missed the leadership of co-captain Caryn Curry, who missed the game.

First Things First

Individual Harvard players played well in spots, but the team never mustered a concerted effort. Point guard Ann Scannell, for instance, scored all of her eight points during a brilliant burst near the game's end after failing to dent the formidable UNH defense for the entire first half.

Wendy Carle, the squad's other cocaptain, tried to keep the young team under control in Curry's absence, but set plays soon dissolved into the "shoot first, ask questions later" offense with which Crimson fans are getting all too familiar.

Solitary Pleasure

Coach Carole Kleinfelder's one pleasure last night had to be the performance of freshman guard Nancy Boutillier, who led the team in scoring with 11 points. Unfortunately, when Boutillier was on, everyone else was way off.

Although the Wildcats did not start a player over six feet, they demolished the Crimson under boards, winning the rebound war 43-28. UNH center Karen Bolton grabbed 15 off the boards and tallied for 10 points from the floor as she dominated play in the lane.

The Fatal Shot

When Bolton and forward Julie MacMullan, who led the Wildcats in scoring with 14 points, were not laying in the chippies, guard Donna Couture was swishing from 15 feet. Couture's deadly jumper yielded another 10 points toward the UNH triump.

The Crimson defense that seemed to be jelling against St. Joseph's crumbled last night in Durham. Kleinfelder's favorite 1-2-2 zone looked limp for most of the evening.

In fact, the Crimson effort as a whole lacked any sign of spirit. The hoopsters let a team that slipped past them by three points last season dictate the game's pace and style from beginning to end. If the cagers plan to finish respectably in the Ivies, they will have to raise their level of play several notches, beginning this Saturday against UPenn.