Harvard coach Kathy Delaney-Smith responded by calling a timeout and swapping out several starters for bench players. The second unit delivered. Junior guard Kit Metoyer made two free throws, Tummala hit a three, forward Destiny Nunley grabbed a steal, and the Crimson used a 10-2 run to push the score to 59-40.

“We simply kept our wits about us and realized that we just needed to continue to attack,” Fagbenle said. “We focused on defense and stopping them from scoring all those outside three-pointers…. Our offense came as a result.”

The blowout score obscured an impressive team effort from the Lady Bisons. Four Lipscomb players finished in double figures, with forward Ashley Southern and guard Chandler Cooper tallying 14 points apiece.

Over the final four minutes of play, Harvard rested its starters. But the Lady Bisons never got closer than 18 points from the Crimson in the closing stages.

“Our game was won on the defensive end and with rebounding,” Curtis said. “Overall we needed to play our game of basketball, and that’s what we did.”

—Staff writer Sam Danello can be reached at sdanello@college.harvard.edu.