Bulldogs Late Rally Not Enough to Overcome Crimson
Feb. 18, 2006
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Junior Chinenye Okafor (Rolla, Mo.) tied a career-high with 19 points and Erica Davis (Columbus, N.J.) chipped in 11 off the bench, but it wasn't enough for Yale to overcome a 15 point second-half Harvard lead on Friday night in Lee Amphitheater. Yale made a frantic push late, getting to within five, but could get no closer as Harvard held on for a 59-54 win. Freshman Emily Tay led the Crimson with 12 points off the bench.
The Bulldogs jumped out first, scoring on the games opening possession. After a tie at 4-4, Yale ran the lead up to six points after freshman Jamie Van Horne (Healdsburg, Calif.) nailed a pair from the charity stripe. Harvard fought back, getting to within two at 10-8, before seeing Yale trot out to their largest lead of the game at 18-10 thanks to an 8-2 run punctuated by a pair of Davis freebies.
Things would turn for the Bulldogs as Harvard countered with an 8-0 run of their own to knot the contest at 18 with 2:55 left in the half. The Crimson would go on to a two-point halftime lead at 24-22.
Harvard quickly built a 10 point cushion on two occasions in the middle of the second period, but the resilient Bulldogs started to fight back. Yale cut the lead to four after Okafor completed an old fashioned three-point play and Kaitlyn Lillemoe (Minnetonka, Minn.) hit a three on consecutive trips down the floor, but once again the Crimson responded. This time Harvard ran their lead up to 15 at 57-42 with just 4:39 left in the game.
The Bulldogs once again set to work on a comeback attempt. Over the next 1:30 the Bulldogs trimmed the lead to 10 on a Sara McCollum (Old Lyme, Conn.) jumper in the lane. Then it was quickly down to eight after two more Davis free throws.
A Christina Lackner lay in re-established a 10 point cushion, but the Bulldogs didn't give in and fought back. After another Okafor basket, Stephanie Marciano (Edison, N.J.) connected on a trey to bring Yale within five at 59-54 with 18 seconds left.
Okafor stole the ensuing inbounds pass and sent a pass to the waiting Marciano. She spotted up and launched a three that missed just short off the front of the rim. Lackner picked up the loose ball for Harvard to end Yale's comeback hopes.
The loss drops Yale to 2-21 overall and 1-9 in Ivy play. Harvard improves to 9-13 and 5-4.
Yale returns to action next weekend, hosting Cornell and Columbia on successive nights, starting on Friday. Tip off for both contests is set for 7:00 p.m.
