Showcasing one of the top team free throw percentages in the country, the Bruins outscored Harvard, 15.3 from the charity stripe in the second half and grabbed the lead with six minutes to play.
Brown lead by a single point with less than two minutes toplay when the hosts took a wild shot. The long rebound cluded the Crimson under the boards and bounded to Bruin Christa Champion. She laid the ball into the basket, giving Brown a three point margin it never relinquished.
Harvard continued to battle hard, but the team's lack of experience took its toll. The Crimson forgot its set play at one crucial juncture while Brown along tenaciously to its lead.
The final two-point difference was as close as the Cantabs got after Champion's Key hoop.
Co-Captain Anna Collins (15 points on 7-11 shooting) and Trisha Brown (12 pointer) joined Keffer in double figures for Harvard.
Brown was led as usual, by its one two punch of Michelle Smith and Donna Yalle Smith the 1982-3 Ivy Player of the Year, led the Bruins with 27 points while Yaffe, last year's Player of the year, added 23.
But Delaney Smith wasn't upset about the loss I talked to some people in the stands and some people from Brown after the game," she said, "and they all agreed it way a shame that someone had to lose."
THE NOTEBOOK: The Crimson will once again try for its eighth victory of the season (which would be the most for the team in the past five years) when it plays at the University of New Hampshire tomorrow night...Harvard has now lost 17 road games in a row over the past two seasons.... The Crimson is 7-3 at some this season, but 0-8 on the road. Only three of its remaining night games this year are at home.
at Providence, R.I.
BROWN (69)--Katie Curits 1-1-3; Michelle Smith 9-5-23; Donna Yaffe 1-11-27; Christine Arbor 0-0-0; Carol Kosar 2-0-4; Christa Champion 4-0-8; Kerry Kelley 2-0-4; Totals 26-17-69.
HARVARD (67)--Barb Keffer 7-4-18; Erin Sugrue 0-0-0; Sharon Hayes 4-0-8; Trisha Brown 6-0-12; Anna Collins 7-1-15; Wendy Joseph 1-0-2; Nancy Cibotti 1-0-2; Beth Chandler 3-2-8; Kim Smith 0-0-0; Hanya Bluestone 1-0-2; Anne Kelly 0-0-0; Totals 30-1-67.
Halftime Harvard 36-32
Fouled Out--None. Total fouls--Harvard '9, Brown 12, Rebounds--Harvard 27 (Collins 7), Brown 43 (Smith 13). Assists--Harvard 12 (Keffer 7). Brown 10(Kelley 5).
Att: 1,622.