The Bulldogs never let the game get out of hand in the second half, closing the Harvard margin to 50-45 with 15:10 to go.
But then, as Monti began driving and into the paint or spotting up for the three-pointer, the Bulldogs found themselves consistently down by more than 10 points for much of the second half.
With seven seconds left, and the Crimson up by 16, Monti made a tremendous move for her record-setting assist.
"It's good and it's an honor, but I don't feel like I do much," Monti said about her record.
Starting at the top of the key, she stepped right, took the ball around her back to the left, stepped into the lane and, in a fluid motion, hit a streaking Sturdy to her right with a perfect pass. Sturdy laid it in untouched.