Wildcats Survives Harvard's Comeback in Overtime

Photo of Emma Markley courtesy of Gil Talbot.

DURHAM, N.H. – Junior Emma Markley scored 21 points to lead three Crimson players in double figures, but the Harvard women’s basketball team fell to New Hampshire, 78-65, in overtime Tuesday night at Lundholm Gymnasium. The Crimson (2-2) overcame a 15-point deficit to tie the score and took the lead late before the Wildcats (3-1) prevailed in the extra session.

Markley was 7-for-21 from the field and 7-for-9 from the free throw line. Sophomore Brogan Berry scored 15 points on a 2-for-5 performance from three-point land. Freshman Victoria Lippert scored all of her 13 points in the second half. Junior Jackie Alemany pulled down a team- and career-high 10 rebounds

The Crimson got off to a slow start as New Hampshire’s combination of Candace Williams and Denise Beliveau helped the home team take an early 15-3 lead after 11 minutes of play. Markley, who had 11 of Harvard’s 20 first half points, scored the Crimson’s first field goal with 8:48 in the game. Fouls late in the first session for the Wildcats sent the Crimson to the line nine times, where Harvard made six shots to close the gap. Markley and junior Jackie Alemany helped cut the lead to single digits, 26-17 with less than four minutes in the first, but a three from Amy Simpson put the lead back in double figures, 29-17. Markley completed a three-point play with less than 30 seconds on the clock to cut the lead to 29-20 at the half.

Lippert scored seven of Harvard’s nine points to start the second session, pulling Harvard to within 34-29 with 15:59 left to play. The Crimson capitalized on several Wildcat turnovers. With just under 14 minutes to play, Alemany stole the ball at half court and ran it in for a lay-up to make it 37-33. New Hampshire hit a three-pointer on its next trip down the court and made several shots at the free throw line to extend its lead back to double digits.

The Crimson, however did not give up. A three from junior co-captain Christine Maters sparked a 14-2, run which included two treys from Lippert and a steal to tie the game at 53 with 3:43 remaining on the clock. After a two-point basket by the Wildcats, a three-pointer from Berry at 3:17 gave the Crimson its first lead of the game 56-55.Thehome team went back on top with a pair of Diamon Beckford free throws. Markley returned the favor with a lay-up with one minute remaining. With three seconds left on the clock, Matera was called for a blocking foul, sending Amy Simpson to the line. She made the first, but missed the second sending the game into overtime.

The Wildcats outscored the Crimson 20-7 in the extra session, thanks to a pair of threes early on and a .10-for-12 shooting effort from the free throw line to seal the victory.

The Crimson remains on the road for two more games both at the Omni Hotel Classic in Boulder, Colo. Harvard faces New Orleans Friday at 4:30 p.m.