“She’s the kind of player that you coach for,” Delaney-Smith. “She has surpassed anything any school in this country could ever want out of a student athlete. She is the epitome of a leader.”

And she is beloved more than most.

“I don’t know if I’ve had a superstar who’s more worshipped than she is,” Delaney-Smith added.

On Saturday, Cserny struggled offensively in the first half. Two quick fouls put her on the bench with just under 12 minutes remaining in the frame.

But Cserny—whose late surge against Dartmouth on Tuesday sent the two teams into Saturday’s playoff—returned just before halftime with characteristic brilliance. She capped off the final five minutes of the half with six points to bring the Crimson to within 12.

The stat column was kind to Cserny: she finished with 15 points, nine rebounds—four of them on the offensive glass—and three steals.

Like Murphy, however, Cserny’s worth extended beyond the box score.

“She never thinks about herself,” Delaney-Smith said. “The last thing on her mind is her own stats. It’s really very refreshing to be around someone like that for four years.”

Cserny endured the physical contact she met each time she went to the basket, greeted by Dartmouth center Elise Morrison and forward Krista Perry. She hit the floor several times while going for a layup or an offensive rebound. And despite battling foul trouble in the first half, Cserny continued to play aggressive defense.

“We have enormous respect for Reka,” Dartmouth coach Chris Wielgus said. “She’s done a wonderful job for Harvard. She’s done a wonderful job for the Ivy League. She has played her heart out.”

And when Delaney-Smith substituted for Cserny with less than a minute remaining and the Crimson down 73-61, the Harvard faithful erupted, chanting her name.

Seconds earlier, when Murphy fouled out during Harvard’s attempt to stop the clock, a rousing chorus of “Katie Murphy” similarly filled the Pizzitola Center.

The fans cheered the former walk-on and the international sensation in the same breath, two players who arrived as freshmen with little in common and who left as seniors and champions.

“This is a team that had peaks and valleys,” Delaney-Smith said. “I honestly feel that the seniors’ leadership allowed us to be co-champions. I just adore them for that.”

—Staff writer Aidan E. Tait can be reached at atait@fas.harvard.edu.