The backbone of the aggressive strategy will be the Crimson's deep backcourt.

Junior Jenn Monti, a 5'6 floor general who likes to push the ball upcourt and control the game's tempo, will be the team's first point guard. Monti set the Harvard single-game assists record with a 14-dish game against Yale last January and averaged 6.1 per game, despite an ankle injury that limited her toward the end of the season. Her intense, steady play earned her second-team All-Ivy honors.

Monti should also see some action at the two spot because senior guard Lisa Kowal, another capable ball-handler, has been feeling healthier despite a sprained ankle early in the preseason. Kowal was out for 10 of the Crimson's games last year, and Monti logged 34.2 minutes per game in perhaps the most physically exhausting position on the floor. With Kowal healthy, Delaney-Smith already has more options for the backcourt than she did last year.

"[Kowal] is one of the best one of the best on the team in terms of what she can do defensively," Delaney-Smith said.

Also figuring into the point guard mix will be freshman Jennifer Lee, a 5'6 player who impressed in the team's 58-54 preseason loss to the Dutch national team. Lee had six points, seven rebounds and four assists in 20 minutes, and she often took the initiative to push the ball up the floor. Sophomore Bree Kelley, a 6' guard who handled the ball some last year, will likely shift to a more natural shooting guard or small forward position.

Delaney-Smith said 5'6 freshman Dirkje Dunham will get playing time as well, and three-point sniper Laura Barnard, a 5'10 junior, will be in as soon as she gets back from injury. Seniors Boike and Carrie Larkworthy, who has been saddled with injuries before, will also see more time this year than in years past as Delaney-Smith looks for fresh legs to run.

"Carrie is a great athlete, and she's doing some really nice things on the court," Delaney-Smith said. "Kristen adds great leadership to this team."

Leadership will also come from the frontcourt, especially from 6'5 center Melissa Johnson. When she was healthy last year, Johnson averaged 12.2 points per game and 11.4 rebounds per game in her first season in Crimson since transferring from North Carolina. But Johnson was sorely missed after a knee injury sidelined her during the second half and Harvard struggled to a 3-4 finish. Johnson will be out for the first couple games as she completely recovers from knee surgery in the off-season.