BOSTON--How does the Harvard women's basketball team replace the 28.5 point scoring void left by the graduation of All-American Allison Feaster '98?
Have senior Rose Janowski score 29.
Janowski's career-high 29-point, eight rebound effort led Harvard (1-0) to an 81-74 overtime victory over Boston University (0-1) last night at Case Gymnasium. Junior forward Laela Sturdy poured in 19 points and pulled down nine boards, while freshman swingman Katie Gates inaugurated her collegiate career with a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds). HARVARD 81 BOSTON UNIVERSITY 74
"I love everyone in our frontcourt," Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith said. "We are legitimate forwards that can score. I said it before, and I will say it again: We are riding Rose's back. She's on a mission."
Janowski was aggressively driving to the basket and effectively using a beautiful up-and-under move in the paint all night long. The only weakness in her game was her free throw shooting, but even from the charity stripe, she came through for the Crimson when her team needed her most.
With 1.1 seconds remaining in regulation, Harvard trailed B.U., 65-63, and Janowski stepped to the line with a one-and-one opportunity. The senior, who was 1-for-5 until that point in the game, hit both shots to knot the score and send the game into overtime.
"I was concentrating on my legs because all of my foul shots were short," said Janowski, who actually played only 26 minutes due to foul trouble. "I just had to concentrate on getting down and using the legs more."
"I would like to step up when [my coaches and teammates] need me. I think I'm definitely a strong enough player to do that. I'm ready for the job. I'm primed for the season," she added.
Harvard had trailed for the majority of the contest, but the Crimson owned the Terriers in the extra period. Harvard opened overtime with a 9-0 run and outscored B.U. 16-9 in the final five minutes to run away with the win. Co-Captain Suzie Miller led the way, scoring all seven of her points in overtime.
Janowski started the scoring four seconds into overtime with a strong lay-up. Miller followed that with a three-pointer, and sophomore point guard Lisa Kowal added a pair of free throws before Miller drained another jumper to give Harvard a 74-65 advantage.
Things did not look as promising for the Crimson early on. After Harvard jumped out to a 7-2 lead, B.U. responded with an 18-2 run to seize control of the contest. In the midst of the Terriers' run, just 6:12 into the game, Janowski picked up her second personal foul and went to the bench for the remainder of the half after having scored all nine of Harvard's points.
Harvard's triangle offense looked sloppy without Janowski on the blocks, but Sturdy helped remedy that situation by scoring seven points in the half in relief of Janowski.
"I felt pretty good and confident in the post," Sturdy said. "The guards were doing a good job of getting us the ball, and that seemed to be the option that was working. When I got the ball felt like I could score."
Despite shooting 65 percent from the field in the first period, Harvard was betrayed by 15 turnovers while B.U. committed just five and the Crimson had to play catch-up for the entire half.
"We tried to start strong, and we did for a minute," Delaney-Smith said. "But we are not making adjustments. [B.U.] beat us to a lot of loose balls."
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