PROVIDENCE--It might have been easy for the members of the Harvard women's water polo team to have doubted its number-10 national ranking.

Sure, they were 6-0 going into the weekend. Sure, they were scoring an average of over 10 goals a game. Sure, they were blessed with team speed, terrific bench strength and the best pressure defense this side of the Los Angeles Lakers.

But in winning the Brown Invitational Tournament Saturday in front of 100 fans in the Smith Natatorium, the Crimson showed one of the best teams in the East that it certainly belongs in the national Top 10.

Harvard (now 9-0) showed up early in the morning to play seventh-ranked Queens, a notoriously physical team which had been the Crimson's nemesis for years. Harvard had never beaten the Knights before--until Saturday, that is.

Harvard raced to a 10-5 lead in the first half on the strength of Tri-Captain Lynley Ogilvie's three goals on three shots. But the senior fouled out of the game in the first half, and the Crimson offense sputtered from then on, allowing Queens to go on a 4-1 run in the third period.

But when the fourth quarter rolled around, the Harvard defensive pressure shut down the Knights.

"That was the highlight of this tournament for us," said Harvard Coach Chris Hafferty.

In their second contest, Harvard used a 6-0 run in the third period and six Stephanie Faro goals as they ripped the Rhode Island Rams, 18-7.

In the final game against host Brown, the Bruins looked to break their O-for-'88 streak against the Crimson

Brown came out swimming hard in the first quarter and managed to stay with the Crimson for a while.

But when Brown knotted the game at three-all, Hafferty sent Jane Looney into the fray, who responded with two goals in 41 seconds. Then Hafferty sent in Moran, who scored two goals in the span of 1:08, Then Gustilo got two lightning-quick goals 12 seconds apart. Just like that, it was Harvard 9, Brown 3.

But Brown sneaked back into the game and pulled to within three goals twice in the fourth quarter.

So what does Harvard do? You guessed it--the full-pool press.