The one Harvard player who did not have to hit the road after Christmas was Lippert, who calls San Diego home.

“I’m so excited,” Lippert said. “It’s just really special to get to be able to play in my hometown and have family and friends there for support.”

Lippert last played at San Diego State’s Viejas Arena in a high school divisional championship game as a junior for Cathedral Catholic High School.

“It’s a cool arena to play in,” Lippert said.

But Delaney-Smith hopes that Lippert will continue to sink shots this week as if she were playing at Lavietes Pavilion.

“I don’t want [Lipppert’s] game to change one bit,” Delaney-Smith said. “I’m very pleased with what she has done all along. If being in front of her home crowd changes her game, that wouldn’t be a good thing. We don’t want that, and I don’t think she will do that. She’s a senior, and she gets it.”

Before Thursday’s game, the Lippert family will host the Crimson for a pre-game dinner. A little home cooking shouldn’t hurt Harvard as it goes for the upset.