The Harvard women's basketball team had hoped it could prevent a Penn Ivy title celebration at Lavietes on Saturday, but the Quakers--now winners of 18 straight--played just well enough down the stretch to avoid defeat.

As the final buzzer sounded in Penn's 62-57, Ivy-clinching victory over Harvard (10-14, 7-4 Ivy), the newly-crowned league champions piled onto center court in ecstasy, bringing the Quaker fans in attendance to their feet.

It was a night full of milestones. As Penn (19-5, 11-0) clinched its first Ivy title and NCAA berth in school history, Quaker senior forward Erin Ladley scored her 1000th career point, and Quaker senior center Diana Caramanico surpassed 2312 career points to break the Ivy scoring record of Crimson great Allison Feaster '98

"The record means a lot to me, but it doesn't mean as much as the team championship," Caramanico said. "The fact that we won makes it that much more special. It's awesome that Erin scored her 1000th point--everything that could have happened tonight happened for us."

Penn led just 57-55 with 5:19 left, following an NBA-range three from Crimson junior forward Katie Gates. But then the Quaker defense took control, limiting Harvard to just two points for the rest of the night.

Carmanico hit her typical, smooth turnaround shot at the 3:04 mark to end two minutes of defensive gridlock and give Penn some breathing room. Ladley hit two free throws on Penn's next possession to extend the lead to six.

Junior guard Jenn Monti followed by hitting her own characteristic shot--a one-handed lay-in while cutting across the top of the key--to keep Harvard within four.

Pressure from senior guard Carrie Larkworthy enticed Ladley to travel, and then the two team's leading scorers--freshman forward Hana Peljto for Harvard and Caramanico--exchanged misses at opposite ends of the court, leaving the Crimson with the ball and 23 seconds left.