"Kathy was appropriately encouraged, but also appropriately critical," she said. "We all know that we have a long way to go."

Harvard will likely start Johnson, captain Laela Sturdy and Gates in the frontcourt.

Johnson, who missed practice yesterday because of illness but will play tonight, leads the team in scoring with 12.3 points per game (ppg) and rebounding with 10.6 rebounds per game (rpg). Sturdy is a close second with 12.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg.

In the backcourt, expect sophomore point guard Jen Monti to handle the ball and senior guard Courtney Egelhoff to spot up beyond the three-point line.

Ball-handling will be crucial to the Crimson's success this weekend.

"We've been working on being patient on the press," Gates said. "Our focus is going to be to play disciplined."

As it will find with most of its opponents this year, the Crimson has a size advantage over all three teams at the tournament. Johnson, her freshman sister, 6'4 Sarah Johnson, 6'3 sophomore Lindsay Ryba and 6'2 freshman Kate Ides give Harvard depth and height at its four and five spots.