Valentine's Day is supposed to be about frolicking lovers with warm hearts and joyous spirits. Every year people look forward to February 14 as a celebration of love.

It is doubtful that either Harvard or Cornell left last night's game with that lovin' feeling.

Harvard (14-6, 8-0 Ivy) remained unbeaten in Ivy League play with a 72-58 victory over visiting Cornell (10-11, 5-4) last night at Lavietes Pavilion, but could not be thrilled with its play.

"We didn't play very well tonight," co-captain Jessica Gelman said. "But true champions can pull it together and win even when they're not playing well."

This one was not pretty. It was not tremendously convincing. But it is still another notch in the win column for the Crimson.

The first half was close all the way through, and Harvard nursed a 29-24 lead at halftime. In the second half, however, the Crimson came out in a zone defense which rattled the Big Red.

Harvard turned its defensive pressure into easy transition baskets and went on a 12-2 run in the first five minutes of the period to open up a 15-point lead. Cornell would not close the gap to less than nine points the rest of the way.

"We were able to get some fast breaks, and that opens everything up because they become tentative," junior guard Alison Seanor said.

The early second half charge was led by Harvard's leading scorer, junior forward Allison Feaster. Feaster came up with a quick steal to get the run started and then converted a layup as she was fouled.

After hitting the free throw she took another pass away from the Big Red. This time Gelman (12 points, three assists) found the other co-captain Kelly Black under the hoop for an easy bucket.

Still up to her thievery, Feaster swiped yet another Cornell pass and took the ball the length of the court for two more points. She finished with a game-high 28 points and added seven rebounds.

But it was her larceny that was most astonishing. Feaster's eight steals set a new school single-game record.

Harvard did not stop there.

After a Cornell jumper, the Crimson came right back. Seanor hit a streaking Gelman with a beautiful pass for another Harvard layup.

To cap off the run, following a Gelman steal Feaster found sophomore guard Suzie Miller all alone behind the three-point arc. Miller calmly knocked down the trey, and Harvard did not look back.