Feaster was the bright spot for Harvard. The senior had a spectacular game and finished with a game-high 28 points, 13 rebounds and three steals in a losing cause.
Harvard's play only worsened in the first half of yesterday's consolation game against Mount St. Mary's. The Crimson looked tentative and unfocused as it hit only eight field goals in the period, and Harvard held a slim 24-21 lead over its inferior opposition at halftime.
The Crimson finally settled down in the second half and pulled away for the 14-point victory behind several record-setting performances by the senior class. Co-captain Megan Basil and senior guard Sarah Brandt each had career-best performances in different offensive categories, and Harvard's most coveted record fell at the hands of the school's greatest player.
Basil found the cure for her shooting blues, draining three of her eight shots from behind the arc to finish with a career-high 16 points. The Crimson's floor general also turned in one of her typically solid defensive performances, recording three steals in the contest.
Brandt continued to make her case for the sixth-man award, coming off the bench to haul in a career-high nine rebounds. She also chipped in five points and two steals of her own.
"I like the challenge of coming off the bench and trying to spark my teammates," Brandt said.
The highlight of the weekend for Harvard, however, was Feaster's accomplishment. With 5:58 remaining in yesterday's contest, the Crimson's "all-everything" forward stepped to the foul line and did what Harvard basketball fans have known she would do for quite some time.
Feaster's first shot tied Harvard's career scoring mark, and her second shot gave her sole possession of the record. She finished the game with a season-high and tournament-high 30 points, 12 rebounds and four steals.
Feaster is on pace to become the first player in Ivy League history to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in a career. She is currently second on the career rebounding list (889) to Butler's 1,053.
Feaster also holds the career record for steals (230) and continues to add to that mark. She was named to the All-Tournament team this weekend, and led all players over both games in scoring and rebounding.
"[Feaster] amazes me; she's a physical specimen," Delaney-Smith said. "[Allison Feaster is] unquestionably the best player at this tournament."
Harvard comes out of the weekend tourney knowing that it must shoot much better, make fewer turnovers and commit fewer fouls to have a successful season. The loss to Maryland could potentially hurt the Crimson's chances for a decent seed in the NCAA Tournament, especially after Holy Cross played the Terps to within eight points.
However, the Crimson can also take many positives out of the weekend. Harvard looked sharp defensively, and outrebounded both of its opponents. A typical shooting percentage in the mid-40s by the Crimson could very easily have resulted in two wins.
"Defense was great, but offensively we need to be a little more patient," Feaster said. "On the whole, we need to be more confident with the ball, and we have to get our turnovers under control; that's going to be key for us."
Ultimately, though, Harvard must produce on the court. The Crimson's shooting slump appeared to take an upswing in the second half of yesterday's contest, and Harvard will have its first chance to build on that performance this weekend when it hosts the Harvard Invitational Tournament at Lavietes Pavilion.