Team Outlook
Each season brings new hope, new talent, new energy and new personalities. The challenge is then to take that new group and form a cohesive unit ... in the shortest amount of time possible. Sometimes it happens quickly, and sometimes, as in the case of the Crimson last season, it takes a bit longer. Though Harvard's 1-10 start was disappointing to the players and coaches alike, the talent was there, and everyone knew it was just a matter of time before the Crimson got on track. With the new year came a new outlook, and the Crimson came out firing against Boston University in its first game of the new year. Then came the Crimson's first Ivy game, in which it walked away with a 72-58 win over Dartmouth. Harvard went on to win four of its next five games, and was poised to make a run at the Ivy League title.

Still very much in the title hunt as the season began winding down, the Crimson needed to defeat Pennsylvania on February 24 to stay alive. The undefeated Quakers had gotten the better of Harvard earlier in the season, with a 65-51 win. Despite battling to the end, the Crimson fell to Pennyslvania 62-57 and finished second in the league.

Though it didn't walk away with an Ivy title, the Crimson learned a lot about itself last season. It learned the importance of teamwork, of not giving up and of hard work. Harvard used all three attributes to regain its composure in the middle of the season. So as the new faces arrived on campus this fall, the Crimson was again optimistic and excited about the returning talent, as well as the possibilities that exist with a new team.

Forwards
The graduation of Melissa Johnson (3.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg) is the lone loss in the Crimson frontcourt. Senior co-captain Katie Gates returns to the Harvard lineup this fall after seeing action in every game during her junior campaign. Third on the team in scoring (7.7 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (3.3 rpg), Gates makes an impact at both ends of the floor, and always seems to grab the big rebound or sink the clutch basket. Gates earned Ivy League Honorable Mention honors for her performance last season.
Senior Sharon Nunamaker brings great work ethic, attitude and leadership to the squad this year. A well-rounded player, Nunamaker's career has been riddled with injury. In 13 games last season, she posted 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. If she can remain healthy, Nunamaker could make an impact for the Crimson in her final season.
A 6-3 power forward with unequalled passing skills, Lindsay Ryba, has excellent court vision and forces opposing players to alter their shots due to her shot-blocking ability. Ryba, a member of the Ivy League All-Rookie team as a freshman, posted a career-high 21 points in the Crimson's loss to Florida on November 24. Though having struggled with injuries, Ryba has the tools to have a great senior season and will provide depth in the front court.

Hana Peljto pulls up for two of her 16 points, during Harvard's win against Northeastern

Sophomores Tricia Tubridy and Hana Peljto had outstanding freshman campaigns. Peljto, who led the team in scoring (16.1 ppg) and rebounding (8.1 rpg), earned a spot on the Ivy League All-Rookie team and was named the League's Rookie of the Year. She finished second behind only Pennsylvania's Diana Caramanico in scoring and third behind Caramanico and Dartmouth's Katharine Hanks in rebounding, and earned First-Team All-Ivy honors in the process. An aggressive and extremely talented player, Peljto has already made an impact for the Crimson and in the League.
Tubridy played in every game for the Crimson, averaging 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, which placed her second on the team in both categories. Tubridy, who was named to the League's All-Rookie team, was also second on the team in steals with 36 on the season, behind Katie Gates. A versatile player, Tubridy is a leader on the floor. With her ability to deliver at both ends of the court, she is expected to continue her success. Junior Sarah Johnson returns this season without the presence of her older sister, Melissa. Despite struggling with some illnesses and injury, Johnson appeared in 22 games last season, and averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. A great post-passer, Johnson's height in the paint will be a tough for opposing teams to counter.
The only other junior on the team, Kate Ides, is physically the strongest member of the squad, and is also one of the hardest workers on the team. With her physical presence and smart play, Ides is able to dominate in the paint. Having averaged 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, Ides has the ability to have a tremendous junior year if she can maintain offensive consistency.
Newcomers Reka Cserny and Rochelle Bell will be also by vying for a piece of the action this season. Cserny a lanky, athletic and mobile player from Budapest, Hungary, raised eyebrows in the European Championships last year. A proficient shooter, she could be an immediate contributor.
After playing against Hana Peljto during her high school years, Bell, a native of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, will have the opportunity to join forces with her. Extremely athletic and talented, Bell was ranked 59th among guards in the country as a senior.

Guards
The Crimson returns a wealth of talent and tremendous depth in the guard position. Despite the losses of Lisa Kowal (4.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg), Kristen Boike (0.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg) and Carrie Larkworthy (1.6 ppg, 1.3) to graduation, Harvard finds itself with a wealth of talent and experience at both guard positions. The skill and athleticism of the returnees will serve the Crimson well as it institutes a more up-tempo offense.

Jennifer Monti returns at the point, to lead the Crimson on the floor. In addition to her offensive skills and her ability to push the ball, Monti has also honed her defensive skills as both an individual and team player. The veteran averaged 5.6 points and 4.51 assists per game, while averaging 2.1 rebounds per game. An All-Rookie Team pick as a freshman, and a second team All-Ivy selection during her sophomore campaign, Monti posted a career-high 16 points against Boston University last season. The senior from Ellington, CT now has 380 career assists, which puts her among Harvard's top four career assist leaders, and is poised to sit atop the list by the end of her final season.
Providing additional depth at point guard will be sophomore Dirkje Dunham, who showed tremendous persistance and resilience last season. Though she did not see action in a considerable amount of games, Dunham continued to improve into one of the Crimson's most tenacious defensive players, and will likely be afforded more opportunities to showcase her abilities this season.
Senior co-captain Laura Barnard heads up a deep and talented shooting guard spot for the Crimson. Barnard has had an injury-riddled career, yet remains one of the Crimson's best shooters. Barnard played in 15 games last season for the Crimson. An injury at Arkansas hampered her play in the middle of the season, but she battled back to play in several games later in the year. Her attitude, skill and work ethic coupled with a injury free season, will make her a strong contender for playing time.
A transfer from Louisiana Tech, sophomore Beverly Moore will be unable to play in games this season due to the NCAA transer rule, but will be an enormous asset as a practice player. Moore, a native of Monroe, LA, saw action in 24 games for the Techsters last season, and will push every guard in practice.

Schedule
Harvard prepares for yet another competitive slate. A first-time ever meeting with the Northeast Conference's Wagner will be among the Crimson's challenges, along with MAAC opponent Manhattan. The Crimson will travel to Manhattan, Kansas, along with Idaho State and Grambling, to participate in the Wildcat Classic hosted by Kansas State in late November. Harvard will have only one non-conference game after the Ivy season begins on January 5, a game at Colgate on January 28. That contest follows the Crimson's exam break and gives the squad a tune-up before round-robin Ivy play resumes the first weekend in February.

Overview
The Crimson heads into this season with an extremely quick and athletic team, with depth and talent that matches any in recent history. Some offensive changes are expected, including a more up-tempo pace. Excitement is brewing about the talented squad, which will benefit from both the veteran leadership and young talent.


 

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