“This is probably one of the most disappointing experiences of my life,” Delaney-Smith said after the game. “Actually, I don’t think I’ve lost this badly here in 15 years.”

All the pieces were in place for the final salute to Lavietes, down to the party set up for after the game and the appropriate milestones passed for the co-captains.

On Friday night, Peljto had become the third woman in Ivy League history to score 2,000 points. On Saturday night, co-captain forward Tricia Tubridy knocked down her 100th career three-pointer.

On Saturday night, the Crimson was also forced to acknowledge the unfamiliar role of spoiler that it would fill for the rest of the season.

“If you can’t be the winner, the next best thing is the role of the spoiler, and we’re embracing it,” Tubridy said.

Harvard succeeded in it, too.

The Crimson beat Princeton on the way to its match against Ivy champion Penn on the Quakers’ Senior Night. Harvard gave as good as it had gotten in the Palestra, taking the lead in the final minutes and spoiling Penn’s final hurrah at home with a 72-67 win.

“There’s no better feeling than revenge,” junior guard Rochelle Bell said.

The Crimson rode the momentum into the final contest Peljto, Tubridy and senior point guard Bev Moore would play in a Harvard uniform—a rematch with Dartmouth that would determine second place in the league.

Harvard trounced the Big Green 82-59, holding Dartmouth freshman phenom Elise Morrison to only 15 points while Peljto headlined with 26.

“I think for us to finish the way we did is a real testament to our character and our pride,” Delaney-Smith said.

The Crimson watched Connecticut obliterate the Quakers 91-55 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament from home, but likely not without pride in Harvard’s season’s end.

—Staff writer Jessica T. Lee can be reached at jesslee@post.harvard.edu.