The Harvard women's basketball chalk can chalk this one up to inexperience.

A plethora of mistakes and another lackluster shooting performance combined to give the Crimson its sixth consecutive loss, a 74-57 decision at the hands of the University of Massachusetts at Curry Hicks Cage in Amherst yesterday.

The loss drops the Crimson's overall record to 6-9. Harvard remains 1-3 in Ivy League play.

The squad has relied all season on the performance of its younger players, especially its six freshmen.

The Crimson got off to great start early in the season, but a series of away games and tough Ivy opponents has derailed the Harvard squad. Coming off a three-win season, Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney Smith has given her first-year players the opportunity to shine in pressure situations.

But even very talented freshman sometimes lose their poise under pressure.

The Minutemen were able to exploit Harvard's inexperience, applying a full court press that broke down the Crimson attack.

"They pressed us the whole game," said Co-Captain Anna Collins. "I don't think we handled the pressure well."

Collins cited the Minutemen's greater experience as the deciding element in the contest.

"They're a very experienced, good team," said Collins. "I don't think that they're a better team than us, we just made more mistakes."

Co-Captain Wendy Joseph voiced similar sentiments.

"We played pretty well," said Joseph. "But those mistakes really did hurt us."

"We didn't play awful," added Collins. "We just could have played better."

The Crimson trailed by only 10 at the half (38-28) and remained very much in the game until a dismal five-minute stretch midway in the second hall when Harvard failed to score and committed costly fouls and turnovers.

From that point, Umass took control of the ballgame.