"We had a great win two days ago [over Ohio State], and Marion and C.J. came up right after that," Johnson said. "Unfortunately, they couldn't make it for [that] game. This is one of the best surprises I've ever had in my entire life. I was walking to my dorm and all of a sudden I turn around and she's right there."

Harvard 66, Ohio State 52

Despite a frustrating first half in which the Crimson had trouble dealing with the Buckeye press, Harvard came out in the second half with renewed intensity and controlled the pace of the game.

The Crimson's victory came in large part because of the play of its freshmen. Breehan Kelley was an able ball-handler, and Kate Ides made her presence felt in the paint. Johnson led Harvard scorers with 18 points.

It was Harvard's first-ever win over a Big Ten team. The Crimson fell 101-42 to Minnesota in 1980 and 94-38 to Northwestern in 1981.

In the first half, the Crimson had trouble helping sophomore point guard Jennifer Monti when Ohio State pressured her in the backcourt.

Harvard doesn't have a true backup point guard, so Monti, the Crimson's only confident ball-handler, had her hands full.

Harvard turned the ball over 13 times in the first half, which Ohio State translated into 11 points.