In the subsequent timeout, Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith chose to put the ball in the hands of freshman Jennifer Lee.

"She can get a shot off better than most, and she's a good shooter, and she hit some nice shots in the first half, so that was the plan," Delaney-Smith said.

Lee threw up a three-point shot with a defender in her face, but it fell just short. When Harvard got the ball back following a free throw from Penn freshman Jewel Clark, the Crimson tried to set up Peljto from outside, but defensive pressure forced her shot off target.

That miss ended any lingering doubts of a Penn victory. The crowd chanted "Ivy Champs" as Penn forward Julie Epton was immediately fouled and sent to the line.

Seven of the Penn's 11 Ivy victories this season have been decided in the final minutes by five points or less.

"That's really been our strength this year, sticking in the tight games and pulling them out, when in past years we haven't been able to do it," Caramanico said. "We would like not to have every game be a close game, but sometimes that's the way you have to win."

Now on the strength of Caramanico and Ladley's senior leadership, Penn is just three wins away from becoming the first team outside of the '96-97 Harvard squad to go undefeated in the Ivies.