You can always tell when an athletic team is enjoying a successful season. The players seem relaxed, confident. Winning never seems to be a worry--it's a given.

And most importantly, the players look like they are having a good time. Winning makes sports fun, and all you have to do is look at the Harvard women's basketball team to see that. From the time of the pre-game warmups Saturday night in Ithaca, N.Y.--when freshman Katie Phillips came out of the locker room for the shoot-around wearing a flourescent swimming cap--you could see that the Crimson (14-7 overall, 9-0 Ivy) is a happy, winning team.

Harvard took its winning attitude into the unfriendly confines of Alberding Field House--minus the services of injured senior forward Jen Mazanec, who suffered a severe ankle sprain against Columbia last Friday but is expected to be in the lineup this weekend--and took care of the Big Red, 74-60, to maintain its unblemished Ivy League record.

And the Crimson recorded the win despite shooting for half the game at a basket that was 3-in. short of the 10-ft. regulation height. Beth Wambach and Erin Maher noticed that the basket was short when they went out for shooting practice early Saturday, but the problem was never rectified. But the faulty hoop could hold back Harvard, which shot 50 percent from the field for the game and connected on 8-of-18 from three-point range.

"We got the win, and we're happy with that," sophomore guard Maura Healey said. "Cornell is a tough team to play. They have some players who can get into a groove and go with it. But we got between an eight and 15-point lead and sustained it through the game."

Harvard entered the locker room at halftime with a comfortable 40-31 advantage, having shot a superb 61 percent from the field. Sophomore center Debbie Flandermeyer led the way, scoring 18 of her game-high 24 points in the first frame. Flandermeyer also finished with a game-high 10 rebounds.

Harvard fell off to 34 percent shooting in the second half, but Cornell hit only nine field goals in the 20-minute frame. The Big Red was led by guard Karen Walker, who tallied 19 points and nine boards.

"Karen Walker is probably the most physical player I've had to play," Wambach said. "I felt like I got beat up, and the refs did not call a tight game."

Wambach finished with 12 points. Maher contributed another strong game, scoring 16 points and nailing three three-pointers. Crimson, 74-60 in Ithaca, N.Y. HARVARD  40-34--74 Cornell  31-29--60

HARVARD (74): Heather Harris 2-5 0-2 4; Beth Wambach 3-12 3-5 12; Debbie Flandermeyer 11-14 2-4 24; Heidi Kosh 2-3 0-0 5; Maura Healey 2-6 0-0 5; Erin Maher 5-11 3-4 16; Kim Seidel 0-0 0-0 0; Dina Hadrick 2-2 0-1 4; Betsy Odita 2-2 0-2 4.

Totals: 28-56 8-18 74

CORNELL (60): Tara Leaman 2-10 0-0 4; Kate Sponaugle 3-4 2-2 8; Cheryl Ames 0-3 0-0 0; Karen Walker 7-17 3-4 19; Liz Caracciolo 1-6 0-0 2; Denise Hylton 3-7 6-7 12; Angie Rodriguez 4-11 2-3 10; Linda Blount 0-0 0-0 0; Suzy Onze 0-1 0-0 0; Erin Iverson 1-3 1-2 3; Bee Sponaugle 1-3 0-0 2; Leigh Benevento 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 22-65 14-18 60

Three-pointers: Maher 3, Wambach 3, Healey, Kosh; Walker 2. Rebounds: Harvard 39 (Flandermeyer 10); Cornell 41 (Walker 9). Assists: Harvard 16 (Kosh 7); Cornell 23 (Caracciolo 3). Steals: Harvard 6 (6 players tied with one); Cornell 5 (Caracciolo, Hylton 2). Blocks: Harvard 3 (Flandermeyer 2); Cornell 2 (Sponaugle, Walker). Fouled Out: Harris. Total Fouls: Harvard 15; Cornell 16. Turnovers: Harvard 14; Cornell 14.

Attendance: 200