Back in October, Harvard women's basketball Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith believed her team's depth would allow her to rotate 10-plus players who would learn to feel good about frequent substitutions.

Her words seemed like hollow coach-speak during the Crimson's 1-10 start in December, as Harvard was hard-pressed to find any player that was producing on a given night, let alone 10-plus. But as of late, Harvard (7-11, 4-1 Ivy) has been utilizing that promised depth.

"This is what we were waiting for," said freshman forward Tricia Tubridy, who notched a game-saving 21 points on Friday. "We knew we were this good. It was only a matter of time before we started showing it on the court."

Delaney-Smith is loaded with options, many of which Harvard's toughest Ivy opposition--Brown (10-9, 5-1) and Penn (12-5, 4-0)--simply don't have.

Harvard can afford to play freshman forward Hana Peljto--its leading scorer and rebounder--just about 20 minutes per game coming off the bench.

"To not start your statistical leader and have her come of the bench is very much a luxury," Delaney-Smith said. "She's happy with that role, and although I'm sure she'd love to start, I like the way she plays when she comes off the bench."

Sophomore forward Kate Ides has started 17 games in her career, and she was Harvard's No. 2 scorer and rebounder behind Peljto for much of December, yet suddenly she is lucky to see eight minutes of playing time on any given night.

Consider junior forwards Lindsay Ryba and Laura Barnard and the sophomore class of Ides, Sarah Johnson and guard Bree Kelley: none of the five cracked double-digits in minutes on Saturday, yet their career-high point totals range from 15 to 23. Nobody else in the league has the luxury of sitting that kind of talent.