HARVARD 69, COLUMBIA 68

Despite the Crimson shooting 45.8 percent compared to Columbia’s 40.3 percent, Harvard had to rely on a precocious rookie to preserve its unblemished Ivy record.

On the final possession of the game, Clark grabbed the offensive rebound off her failed attempt and hit a 12-foot game-winner—angled from behind the backboard, no less—with 3.1 seconds remaining.

“[Clark] is a competitor,” Delaney-Smith said. “That’s what she’s going to do all four years. She has never played like a freshman...she had a lot of poise and hit a big shot for us.”

Both the Lions and Harvard scored 38 points in the second period, and it was a one-point difference in the second half that made all the difference. The home team gave the Crimson a battle throughout, especially when it came to rebounds. Columbia grabbed 43 boards compared to Harvard’s 33.

“Welcome to the Ivy League, is what I think,” Delaney-Smith said of the Lions’ performance. “I’m not surprised at Columbia. I feel that the wins-loss record isn’t always indicative about what’s going to be on the floor in Ivy competition.”

“I don’t think we did horribly, but we didn’t play our best game either,” Delaney-Smith concluded.

—Staff writer Brian A. Campos can be reached at bcampos@fas.harvard.edu.