Over in New Haven, the Harvard women’s team took the eight overall spot in the 2012 Yale Women’s Intersectional Regatta. The Crimson tied with the Rams from the University of Rhode Island, as each team scored 146 total points. Harvard won the tie-breaker.

Juniors Ruane and Russom finished in second place in the A division. The duo scored 49 points, just four points ahead of the host-team Bulldogs, in six races. It marked the highest finish for either team on the weekend.

“We were excited about the result,” Ruane said. “We were nervous about this regatta because of the competition. It was really windy and there were really challenging conditions, along with the really competitive fleet. So we were just looking to do our best, and it was better than we could have hoped.”

Junior Caitlin Watson and Jacquelyn Cooley, freshman Sophie Bermudez, and sophomore Emma Smith alternated in the B division boat. By the end of the weekend, the foursome racked up 97 points.

Dartmouth and Yale stood neck and neck on the final day of competition. In the end, the Big Green prevailed with 78 points, slightly less than the Bulldog’s total of 84.

Ruane acknowledged the season’s challenges but remained confident in her teammates as they head into the final stretch of the fall season.

“In general, we had ups and downs for the team,” Ruane said. “The girls are looking better and better each weekend, and we are seeing the results of our hard work.... I think we have to continue the energy and dedication we have shown so far. We’ve really come together the past two weeks as a team. We are all working together, and we have to keep working as it gets colder and windier.”

—Staff writer Blake Sundel can be reached at bsundel@college.harvard.edu