“[Markley] is a great post player who draws so much attention,” Matera said. “With people going down to double her, it definitely opens up the outside game for the guards. She definitely makes my job easier.”

Perhaps most importantly, Markley has stepped up this season to provide leadership for a young team that has no seniors on its roster. In a league where experience rather than talent frequently carries a team to the top of the standings, Markley’s ability to lead the freshmen and sophomores will determine just how far the Crimson will go this season.

“Scoring wise, Emma’s always been an asset to the team,” Matera said. “But where she’s grown the most is becoming a leader.”

“I think all the upperclassmen have to step up a year early,” Markley said. “We’ve all been doing a good job leading the team. It’s not the simplest thing in the world to keep a team together for the entire season, but we’re all working together.”

Yet, in spite of basketball’s team nature, it is clear that Harvard’s success hinges largely on Markley’s performance on the court. Given the way Markley has been playing recently—she leads the team in scoring, rebounds and blocks—it’s really no surprise that Harvard finds itself right in the thick of the Ivy title race.

—Staff writer Kevin T. Chen can be reached at ktchen@fas.harvard.edu.