Another Run for the Crown

A younger, more athletic Crimson seeks to avenge its loss to Dartmouth in another title attempt

By Christina C. Mcclintock, Contributing Writer November 12, 2009

“There’s always going to be a big rivalry when a team beats us,” Rowland says. “Of course we have extra motivation.”

With Dartmouth returning three starters from last year’s squad—including junior forward Brittney Smith, the 2009 Ivy League Player of the Year and 2008 Rookie of the Year—the Big Green is favored to win a third-straight Ivy title.

“Last year [Dartmouth was] tougher and faster in the post,” Matera says. “We’ll be better at matching up this year.”

Harvard’s contests against Dartmouth come at the beginning and the end of Ivy League play, but there are ample games to keep the Crimson occupied in between.

“Pretty much every team in the Ivy League can beat every other team on a given day,” Matera says.

The second game of the league schedule pits Harvard against the Columbia Lions in a test of the squad’s versatility. Just as the locations of Dartmouth and Columbia couldn’t be more different, the two teams have very different styles of play. The Big Green is very athletic and fast, whereas the Lions rely on the powerful play of junior Judie Lomax, who led the NCAA in rebounding last year with over 14 boards per game.

“She’s very strong, very resilient,” Matera says. “She’s a little bit different.”

Last year, Columbia defeated the Crimson, 74-71, in the teams’ first contest, but Harvard exacted revenge when it visited New York later in the season, defeating the Lions, 71-58.

Columbia brings back four of its starters and could make a run at the traditional contenders.

Also challenging the Crimson this season will be rivals Princeton and Yale.

“If [the Tigers] put it all together, they are dangerous,” Delaney-Smith says. “Yale probably has even more talent than Dartmouth.”

With new talents on the rise and the Big Green perennially lurking up north, Harvard will have no time to rest in a tough league schedule. Only if it takes care of business throughout the Ancient Eight slate will the Crimson’s final game against Dartmouth determine the Ivy League. And no revenge would be sweeter than for Harvard to knock off the Big Green for the Ivy title in Lavietes.