Four straight wins, four straight opponents held under 35 percent from the field. The Harvard women’s basketball team (11-6, 3-1), following a tumultuous 4-4 December campaign, has found defense essential to domination. In this weekend’s contests against Brown (13-6, 5-1 Ivy) and Yale (4-15, 1-5 Ivy), the Crimson will hope to feature more of the same.

“The single answer…is defense,” coach Kathy Delaney-Smith said. “If you ask my team, they’ll tell you the same thing.”

Indeed, they will.

“I think our defense has really been getting the team going emotionally,” senior guard Katie Murphy said. “We’ve been playing great team defense and it translates into great offense, just with fast break points and big rebounds and things like that.”

In the four consecutive victories, Harvard has surrendered no more than 53 points and has recorded 49 steals. This weekend, the Crimson turns its focus to the paint, as both Brown and Yale feature powerful centers who lead their teams in scoring.

BROWN

The resurgent Crimson has lost only once in 2005, but Friday’s matchup against Brown poses a sizable challenge. Brown and Harvard are tied for second in league standings, with this weekend’s winner gaining a critical advantage in the race for an NCAA Tournament berth. The Bears are 4-2 on the road and have won seven out of their last eight games by an average of 15 points.

Defensively, the Crimson must contend with a trio of Bears who combine for 40.7 points per game—65 percent of the Brown offense.

Center Holly Robinson, a second-team All-Ivy selection in 2004 who averages 14.9 points per game, may be the toughest matchup for Harvard.

“I think our challenge is to hold Robinson and control her,” Delaney-Smith said. “She’s a very talented center. I would say she’s one of the most talented in the league. I don’t think you stop a player like Holly, but I think you minimize her touches and keep her off the boards.”

Harvard learned that lesson well last February when Robinson, who tops out at 6’5, lit up the Crimson for 27 points and 10 rebounds in the Bears’ 95-70 victory.

In preparation for Robinson’s inside presence, Harvard has spent the week practicing special defenses that target the post. The unenviable job of defending Robinson will fall on Harvard captain Reka Cserny, who has been an indispensable component of the Crimson’s recent four-game tear.