Rather than retreat to protect the backcourt against a Dartmouth squad that liked to run, McCaffery tore to the glass and ripped down her own offensive rebound amidst a crowd of hands vying for the ball. Before a Dartmouth defender could react to her inside position, McCaffery spun neatly toward the basket and dropped in a layup off the glass.
“They love the two seniors. They were going to do everything they could not to let it slip out of their hands,” Delaney-Smith said. “And Maureen epitomizes that emotion. That was a play based on ‘I’m going to do everything I can, I’m going to leave it on the court and let the cards fall where they fall.’”
Fall they did for McCaffery—right into the basket.
On the ensuing possession, McCaffery nailed another three-pointer from the right side, cutting the lead to 51-41.
“It really came together when we got our defensive stops,” McCaffery said. “We came back on offense and I made some shots. When that happens, it feels good.”
As the roaring crowd reached deafening levels, chanting “Let’s go Harvard!” on every offensive possession, McCaffery answered the call.
Her last basket, a smooth jumper off the dribble from the top of the key, sliced the Dartmouth lead to three and sent the crowd into an uproar.
“[The crowd] made an enormous difference,” McCaffery said. “That was amazing, and we’re so grateful.”
McCaffery’s spurt—and the crowd’s ear-shattering support—sparked a 26-4 Harvard run in less than eight minutes that gave the Crimson a 62-55 lead.
“It’s a championship game—things like that happen,” McCaffery said.
The Crimson has yet another championship game against Dartmouth slated for Saturday at 4 p.m. The teams’ second rematch carries with it the promise of an NCAA tournament berth.
And after a night like last night, McCaffery has already sent a message to the Big Green—but she’s not done yet.
“I think they’d better be ready,” McCaffery said. “We’re excited. We’re going to the [NCAA] tournament.”
Looks like the Big Green better get ready for some more Mo.
—Staff writer Aidan E. Tait can be reached at atait@fas.harvard.edu.