Had you entered Lavietes Pavilion after Saturday night's game with Northeastern, you might not have realized that Harvard had just dropped its eighth game out of its first nine.

Crimson players, still in uniform, happily greeted family and friends. Crimson coaches respectfully discussed the game with reporters and fans. Smiles outnumbered frowns.

That isn't exactly the atmosphere you would expect to surround a team that held an eight-point lead midway through the second half against Northeastern, letting it slip away in the end for a loss.

But this was exactly the atmosphere that was needed, and exactly the "get-'em-next-time" attitude that will soon pay dividends for this young squad

"We will learn from games like this," said freshman forward Tricia Tubridy. "Even when you lose, no one can keep you from keeping your head in the game."

Tubridy spoke the truth, as her Harvard teammates battled to the very end against a Northeastern team that was led by Allen Iverson-esque point guard Aisha Williams' 17 points.

As early as two minutes into the game, all 11 bench players were on their feet, excitedly encroaching onto the court until they were asked to back up. Whenever the Harvard shot clock ran down past 10 seconds, bench players and coaches counted down in unison to make sure their teammates released a quick shot.

"The bench is really great," Tubridy said. "When I'm on the bench or when my teammates are on the bench, we always take pride in staying in the game."