Freshman center Karen Smith shot a torrid ten for 15 from the floor and scored 24 points to lead the Harvard women's basketball team to an easy 68-41 victory over Brown last night at the IAB.

Smith hit the Crimson's first nine points, including a comely three-point-play off an assist from guard Stacie McMahon to give the cagers a comfortable five point cushion five minutes into the game.

All That Jazz

The Harvard Band's good natured innuendo was more offensive than the Bruin "attack" in the first half, as center Toni Lagos, usually Brown's high scorer, sunk only 2-16 from the floor.

Tight Harvard defense also troubled the Bruins--Elaine Holpuch and Smith--both returned to the starting lineup--directed Coach Carole Kleinfelder's "person-to-person" defense, forcing turnovers and limiting Brown to just one shot.

"We did a lot of nice things on defense in the first half, especially Elaine," Kleinfelder said after the game.

"Our defense was a lot better than it had been, and they just weren't hitting," Holpuch added with a hint of understatement.

The hoopsters has several opportunities to put the game out of the lethargic Rhode Islander's reach, but frequent turnovers, unnecessary fouls and three-second violations held the margin to 27-17 at halftime.

The Crimson picked up the pace in the second half with a 17-6 spurt extending its lead to 44-23 only six minutes into the half. Junior captain Caryn Curry ended what has been a one woman show starring smith by sinking three picturesque jumpers.

Kleinfelder's move to a one-two-two zone defense extricated her squad from some troublesome foul difficulties. With the "person-to-person" defense, freshman forward Gillian Raney fouled out, and Holpuch finished with four fouls.

"We have to learn to play person-to-person without fouling. I think we were a little too comfortable with the zone," Kleinfelder said.

The Brown game was a virtual replay of these two teams first encounter this year, when Harvard won, 66-38, in the quarter finals of the Ivy Championship.

The Bulldogs, 50-43 conquerors of the Crimson in the Ivy semi-finals, will come to the IAB for a return match Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

Harvard fans can expect a more thrilling contest Friday night. Last night's match was so placid that the Band asked the crowd, "Excuse me, where are the psychology stacks?"

Harvard 68, Brown 41 at the IAB

Sue Field 10-0 2; Stacie McMahon 1 0-0-2; Caryn Curry 3 0-0 6; Kim Belshe 1 2-2 4; Hildy Meyers 2 0-0 4; Wendy Carle 2 0-0 4 ; Dorris Woolery 3 0-0 6; Dana Warren 2 0-0 4; Elaine Holpuch 4 2-3 10; Karen Smith 10 4-7 24. Harvard 30 8-12 68.

Dariel Young 1 0-0 2; Lindy Moorcroft 2 0-1 2; Trish Morrissey 1 2-2 4; Toni Lagos 1 2-3 4; Janice Kardo 3 0-0 6; Jennifer Rubin 1 1-1 3; Trish Wartz 5 4-6 14; Brown 16 9-15 41.