Yet the Crimson kept on finding ways to win, notching victories in eight consecutive league games before falling to Princeton, 78-66, at the end of the season.

While Harvard’s offensive prowess was instrumental in keeping the Crimson in contention for a title, Delaney-Smith attributed the team’s shortcomings in defense and rebounding as the main reason for finishing in second place.

“I tried seven different things this year [for rebounding and defense]...but all the talk and drills in the world just aren’t doing it,” Delaney-Smith said. “We got better, but I still don’t have three legitimate rebounders on the team. I have two. We had stretches in several games where we were the best-defending team I’ve ever coached, so it isn’t that we don’t know how [to rebound and defend], it’s just not our mindset.”

Harvard will remain an offensive threat to conference opponents next season, but Delaney-Smith asserted that it will be other aspects of the game that will determine the Crimson’s success.

“The defense and rebounding–not offense–will dictate whether we win a title next season,” she said.

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