The women's basketball team held Harvard's potent offensive attack to 28.5 percent shooting, crushing the Crimson 72-48 to win the Ivy League Championship and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Before the game, Coach Chris Wielgus said games like this are "wonderful."
She could not have known at the time that her team would play its best game of the season, demolishing Harvard on its own court before more than 2,000 fans.
Dartmouth's first round opponent in the tournament, which begins next week, will be announced this Sunday afternoon.
Dartmouth dominated the game from the beginning. Sally Annis '97 scored the first five points of the game, and Ilsa Webeck '94 controlled the offensive boards. Dartmouth's stifling man-to-man defense limited Harvard to only three points in the first five minutes of the game, at which point Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith called time-out to regroup her squad.
But it was useless, the Dartmouth domination continued. Webeck hit another jumper, extending Dartmouth's edge to 14-3. Harvard's freshman phenom Alison Feaster hit a few jumpers, but Dartmouth answered right back.
With Dartmouth leading, 19-11, Brandi Jones '95 hit a three-pointer, establishing a new Dartmouth career record for three-pointers. Once again, Delaney-Smith took a time-out.
But the Harvard team still could not get in synch. Seconds back into play Jen Stamp '96 sunk her first three-pointer of the night. Thirty seconds later, she hit another one, edging the Big Green lead to 29-13.
Harvard responded with five points but Dartmouth stayed calm and kept shooting; and the swishes kept coming. With 5:25 left in the first half,Feaster hit two free throws to bring the Crimson within 10, 32-22.
Then the Crimson switched to a zone defense, to which Dartmouth responded very well.
Webeck drained a turn-around jumper, then kissed another shot off the glass, upping the lead to 36-22. Harvard's Tammi Butler hit two free throws 3:43 left in the first half, but Annis responded with a ferocious drive, tallying her 10th point of the night.
Bess Tortolani '98 notched her first bucket of the night with 30 seconds left, and Dartmouth lead 44-26 at the intermission.
Dartmouth kept its offensive intensity up in the second half, and Harvard remained helpless against Dartmouth's swarming defense.
Webeck hit a 10-footer in the first few minutes of play. Butler responded with a three-point play. Then Laurie Stucker '95 banked in a shot off an offensive rebound, moving the score to 48-30.
Stamp continued to rack up the points in the second half, scoring a quick half-dozen in the early minutes. While Webeck and Annis led the team in the first half, the second half belonged to Stamp.
Webeck finished the game with 16 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots, while Annis had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists.
After a successful first half, Betsy Gilmore '94, who was still recovering from food poisoning, took a rest and allowed Katie Samuelson '97 to see some time. Gilmore still managed seven points, five assists and six steals.
With 5:30 left in regulation, Dartmouth was still padding its lead, which stood at 67-36. Meanwhile, Harvard struggled desperately with its offense.
