The biggest gains came from junior Virginia Brown. This time, moving her up to No. 5 spot paid off, as she posted a huge 3-1 victory (5-9, 10-9, 9-1, 9-2) to finish the Howe Cup with a 10-2 individual record.

Just as in the regular season match, Harvard got victories from its bottom three spots. Freshman Lindsay Coleman (10-1) followed up her huge win against Penn with a close 3-2 victory (2-9, 9-3, 9-3, 7-9, 9-3) while No. 8 Frances Holland (12-0) and No. 9 Katie Gregory (12-0) both won 3-0.

But needing just one other victory to take the match, the Crimson came up empty.

Harvard lost three matches that went five games. Captain Blair Endresen fell just short at the No. 6 spot, losing 3-2 (9-10, 9-3, 9-6, 7-9, 9-3).

For the second straight day, Elias watched an opponent come from behind to beat her in five games, falling 3-2 at the top spot (6-9, 9-2. 9-4, 7-9, 9-3).

The closest loss by far came from No. 4 Ella Witcher, a freshman. The only Harvard winner from the top half of the draw in its first match against Trinity, she appeared to be headed in the same direction early on against Bantam sophomore Samantha Lewins, winning the first two games, 9-4 and 9-6, respectively.

But Lewins put forth a come-from-behind effort that allowed Trinity to knock Harvard out of the third-place spot. Witcher came close to winning the third and fourth games, but lost each by the closest of margins, 9-7 and 10-9, respectively. Lewins had all the momentum going into final game, and won easily, 9-4.

"I was up the first two," Witcher said. "But she managed to stay very close."