"It's all mental preparation, period," says Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney Smith. "I really believe that the game is won or lost before you step onto the court."

The turnaround is also a result of the maturation of the first strong recruiting corps in the Delaney Smith era. Eight promising freshmen last year have matured into six seasoned sophomores who are leading the team this year.

"They all come from winning high school programs," Assistant Coach Beth Wheatley Doran said of her players, "So they know how to win. It's just a matter of the chemistry."

And a deep bench and an offensive attack that refuses to quit doesn't hurt much, either.

"Sharon [Hayes] doesn't hit, Trish [Brown] hits. If Trish doesn't hit, Hanya [Bluestone] goes in," says Kelly. "For the other team it must be like a vicious circle of players."

Harvard's running game was taking its toll on the hapless Tigers. With three minutes and running alongside Keffer on a Harvard fast break.

Hayes was about to score her last points in a magnificent 17-point performance that would pull her out of a horrendous three-game, 3-for-24 drought.

Hayes took a pass from Keffer, dribbled towards the baseline, pulled up, popped from ten feet, and drew the foul. The ball obligingly went through the hoop.

"I knew right then there was no way we could lose," said Hayes.