Two seasons ago, the Harvard women's basketball team shocked the Ivy League by climbing from a last-place 1985 finish to the 1986 championship. It was the Harvard's first Ivy basketball title ever.

Last weekend, the Crimson came up with another surprise--its first-ever wins over Boston-area teams and a Boston Four Tournament crown. Harvard upset Boston University, 79-75, in overtime, and followed with a 73-67 triumph over defending champion Boston College.

Women's Basketball

1986-'87 Overall: 13-13

1986-'87 Ivy League: 8-6 (fourth)

Captains: Barb Keffer, Sharon Hayes, Beth Chandler

Somewhere in between--during a disappointing 1986-'87 season--the Crimson found itself missing that winning drive. The favorites for the Ivy title finished 13-13 overall, mired in the middle of the league standings.

According to Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney Smith, "That will not happen this year."

And she has good reasons to think so.

"We have some quickness, some height, lots of outside shooting and a good inside game," Delaney Smith said.

Junior Beth Chandler--out last year with a knee injury--has returned to the frontcourt to lend strength to Harvard's inside game. Chandler took MVP honors in last weekend's tourney.

"I really have a lot of confidence with our inside game," Delaney Smith said. "It compliments our outside game."

The Crimson's outstanding outside shooting has been given a boost by the new three-point rule. Senior point guard Barb Keffer was shooting from 20 feet out last season. This year it counts for three.

"I couldn't be happier about that three-point rule," Delaney Smith said. "We have two outstanding outside shooters in Sarah [Duncan] and Barb. Heidi [Kosh] is coming on, and Sharon Hayes has a range just one step in. That's five legitimate three-point shooters."

It was 70 percent three-point shooting that gave Harvard an edge over its Boston competitors last weekend. That, and the Crimson's superior physical condition.