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Updated November 28, 2024, at 11:32 p.m.
Harvard’s women’s basketball team defeated the St. John’s Red Storm 54-52 on Thursday, as star guard Harmoni Turner hit a last-second layup to extend the Crimson’s seven-game winning streak.
The Red Storm (6-1, 0-0 Big East) was undefeated heading into its Thanksgiving Day matinee against Harvard (8-1, 0-0 Ivy) and dominated for the first half of the game, but the Crimson put up 29 points in the third quarter to silence the home crowd and leave Carnesecca Arena as the queens of Queens.
St. John's erased a nine-point deficit at the start of the final period, with grad transfer Ber’Nyah Mayo nailing two consecutive free throws to tie the game at 52 with seven seconds left, leaving Harvard with one last chance to put the game away.
Turner hit the ground running, dribbling full speed down the court and getting her shot to go just before the buzzer went off, putting the finishing touches on her 27-point day and guaranteeing that Harvard would travel back home to Cambridge grateful.
Entering the contest fresh off a gritty 60-51 win over Stony Brook on Wednesday, the Crimson had plenty to be thankful for going into the marquee matchup in Queens. On Monday, Harvard earned a vote in the Associated Press’s Top 25 poll for the second time this season (and program history). The St. John’s victory marked the team’s seventh consecutive and will likely bring the team closer to a coveted top 25 ranking.
Early on on Thursday, though, there were few signs that it would be a successful Turkey Day for the Crimson, with the squad shooting a putrid 2-for-15 from the field in the first quarter, amassing only four points. Harvard’s defense matched St John’s intensity, shutting down the Red Storm offense to trail only 8-4 after one period.
St. John’s found an offensive groove early in the second, firing off a 13-4 run to reach its peak lead 21-8. The Crimson duo of Turner and senior guard Elena Rodriguez kept the offense afloat, scoring all 10 Harvard points in the period. Still, the team trailed 23-15 at halftime.
Harvard returned to the hardwood with renewed vigor as Turner torched the Red Storm with three consecutive treys to give Harvard its first lead of the contest. Harvard’s Turner-Rodriguez duo welcomed a third contributor, freshman guard Lydia Chatira, as the trio combined for 29 points. Harvard’s defense returned to form, securing a 43-34 lead heading to the final period.
Harvard’s offense predictably slowed in the fourth quarter as the Red Storm inched closer with every elapsing minute. Perimeter shooting was completely abandoned, with both teams looking to impose their will inside. Following a missed St. John free throw, Harvard signaled for a timeout, clinging to a 51-48 lead with 30 seconds remaining.
A near nightmare scenario ensued, with Harvard turning the ball over on the inbound pass, leading to a St. John’s layup. After the teams exchanged free throws, Harvard found itself tied 52-52 with possession and seven seconds remaining. Turner drove down the lane, craftily finding space for the game-winning layup with only one second left.
Following successful road trips to Illinois and New York, the Crimson returns to Lavietes Pavilion on Saturday, Dec. 7 with a matchup against the University of Rhode Island at 2 p.m. Streaming will be available on ESPN+.
—Staff writer Oscar Mercado can be reached at oscar.mercado@thecrimson.com.
