W. Cagers Battle Bears, Elis

For the Harvard women's basketball team, this has been a year marked by close calls.

Losing five of their six games down the stretch has turned a potential 15-1 national powerhouse team into a 9-6 (2-1 Ivy) team clawing their way toward an NCAA berth. However, their 81-79 buzzer-beater over New Hampshire suggests that their difficulties are finally over and the battle for an Ivy League title is about to swing into full force.

With an Ivy League championship as the only guarantee of an NCAA berth, Crimson victories in this weekend's home stand Friday against Yale (7-9, 2-2 Ivy) and Saturday against Brown (6-10, 3-1 Ivy) are essential. Currently, Harvard is tied for third in the Ivy League, but league-leaders Cornell and Brown each have one loss.

"Right now, there are no clear cut standings in the Ivy League," senior Elizabeth Proudfit said.

This weekend's two opponents offer Harvard a rare opportunity to break out of the pack and surge to the top of the League. To do so, the Crimson must overcome a two week finals hiatus that ended with the New Hampshire game on Tuesday.

Compounding this problem is the fact that they have seen neither opponent in action earlier this season.

"Yale and Brown have traditionally been strong but it is impossible to tell what will happen," Proudfit said.

This weekend means more than a chance for the Crimson to move up in the standings; it also offers the Crimson a chance to rehabilitate its League reputation after an embarrassing loss to Cornell (7-8, 3-1 Ivy) in Ithaca. This reputation is important because it gives the Crimson an added advantage in psyching out opponents before games even begins.

Though these games are important, the Crimson does not plan on altering its game plan a bit. Instead, it will stick with a focus on aggressive defense and fast breaks to push the ball up the court and maximize scoring opportunities.

As for those second half close calls, Harvard plans on heeding the lessons of the New Hampshire game.

"We will remember New Hampshire this weekend and not panic during the second half," Proudfit said.

If the team does not panic, then the Crimson can turn a mediocre pre-Ivy season into a rout of Ivy League opponents and an NCAA Tournament bid.