The Harvard women's basketball team kicked off the New Year with some old habits. Fortunately, winning is not a habit the Crimson wants to break.

Harvard (10-2, 1-0 Ivy) opened is Ivy League season with a thrilling 74-69 victory over Dartmouth (5-6, 0-1 Ivy) Saturday night at Lavietes Pavilion. The victory runs the Crimson's record for consecutive Ivy victories to 27 games.

"I thought we were very poised when momentum was not our way for most of the game," said Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith. "Our team has enormous confidence."

The streak, however, was in serious jeopardy with seven minutes remaining in Saturday's contest. Harvard found itself trailing by a score of 62-55 against a Dart-mouth squad that hit 47 percent of its shots in the game.

"They were hitting everything at the beginning, and that threw us off," said junior guard Suzie Miller.

"Dartmouth is a very talented team, and the rivalry is so strong," Delaney-Smith said. "I was frightened the whole game."

But the two-time defending Ivy League champions refused to quit. Co-captain Allison Feaster took over down the stretch, scoring 13 of the Crimson's final 19 points to lead Harvard to victory. The most crucial baskets of the game, however, would belong to two of Feaster's teammates.

With 6:35 to play in the second half, Feaster connected on her second three-pointer of the night to pull the Crimson to within four points. After the Big Green answered at the other end of the floor, Feaster came right back and knocked down a baseline jumper to make the score 64-60.

On Harvard's next possession, junior forward Sarah Russell hit Feaster with a gorgeous feed which the All-American laid up and in, cutting Dartmouth's advantage to two points. Half's a minute later Feaster drew a foul with a strong move in the paint, and she converted both free throws to knot the score at 64-64.

"I'm not going to lie, I was scared", Feaster said. "This was out first game in the Ivy League, and everyone was so pumped that I think something got away from us. I knew we had to do something."

A layup put the Big Green ahead by two once again before Miller nailed the bigger shot of the game--and perhaps the season--for Harvard. With 3:00 left to play and Dartmouth's defense focused on stopping Feaster, Miller took center stage and did not disappoint.

Feaster dribbled the ball up the court and, as the Big Green's defense collapsed on her, she kicked the rock out to Miller who spotted up behind the three-point arc. Feaster shouted, "Bust that," and the junior forward obliged. Miller's third trey of the game gave Harvard a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way.

"Playing on a team with Allison Feaster just opens up shots for other people," Miller said. "All we have to do is get open, and she'll get us the ball."

The task of sealing the victory for Harvard fell on the shoulders of co-captain point guard Megan Basil. With 16 seconds showing on the clock and the Crimson clinging to a 69-67 lead, Basil stepped to the foul line with a one-and opportunity.

She converted the front end--thanks in part to a friendly rim--but missed the second shot. Feather grabbed the rebound, however, and converted two shots from the charity stripe to put Harvard up by five points.