Yet Brown (5-21, 2-11) still got off to a good start, scoring the first seven points. The Crimson didn’t get on the scoreboard until Gates sunk a trey at 17:33.
Harvard traded baskets with the Bears, taking its first lead at 12:37, when Monti made a nifty shot for two and a 13-12 advantage after Brown committed a shot clock violation.
However, the lead was short-lived, as a steal followed by a layup from sophomore Stephanie Bruce turned the game back in Brown’s favor, 21-20. The Bears built on the leverage, leading the Crimson by as much as 28-22 with 4:29 remaining.
“It was tough to establish a rhythm,” Monti said. “We went with a different group at the beginning—that’s as capable as any group—and I think it just took us a few minutes to get our rhythm.”
Harvard climbed back to knot the game at 32 at the close of the half, on the strength of Monti and Peljto, who scored four points apiece in the interval.
The second half played out more to the Crimson tune, as a Brown lane violation at 15:38 sent Gates to the charity line, where she made one of two, breaking a 38-38 tie and giving Harvard a lead it would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
The Crimson built on its advantage, leading by as many as 22 thanks to a 23-6 run.
Harvard 77, Yale 65
Was there a sense of relief on Friday night, when Harvard’s seniors finally earned the right to hold the Ivy plate?
“More than I think I can put in words,” senior Katie Gates said. “The seniors have gone through so much. It’s nice to finally be here.”
The Crimson seemed more than ready to claim its title, taking a 2-0 lead on two free throws from Peljto, an advantage Harvard would hold for the entire game. The Crimson extended its lead to 10 when, with just over 12 minutes left in the half, Monti made a long pass to Cserny and she sent the ball to Peljto, standing alone in the paint, who made a layup for a score of 13-3. Six seconds later, Cserny assisted another Peljto basket, as Harvard climbed on the scoreboard.
The Crimson’s biggest lead came with 2:45 remaining, as Nunamaker scored two to give Harvard an 18-point lead at 40-22. A trey from sophomore Tricia Tubridy at the buzzer game the Crimson a 45-29 advantage at the half.
Harvard refused to surrender its lead in the second half, though the Elis (14-13, 7-7) proved to be a very physical team.
“It got a little bit rough,” Cserny said. “I guess they didn’t know what to do against our offense—that’s why they started to become aggressive. But it didn’t work out for them.”
Elbows were given, and Yale senior Kate Merker knocked down Barnard as she went up for a shot at 12:54.
“We just wanted to keep our composure,” Peljto said. “It got a little ugly at the end and we tried to have class and finish off the game and that’s what we did.”
With 9:22 remaining, Monti sent off a scoop pass over two Eli defenders to Peljto, who promptly scored two, for a score 66-45. It was just one of Monti’s 10 assists for the night, in addition to four steals.
Yale began to close the lead, with threes from sophomore Bonnie Smith and sophomore Christina Phillips and several Crimson fouls helping. Two free throws from freshman Tory Mauseth cut Harvard’s lead to 10, 66-56, with just over six minutes left.
But the Crimson held on, assisted by Cserny and Peljto, who both registered double-doubles. Peljto had two game-highs with 24 points and 13 rebounds, as well as two blocks. Cserny tallied 19 points and 10 boards, along with four steals.