Roland's 25 Lead Women over Harvard, 76-61

Saturday, January 10

Cambridge, Mass.

6:00 PM

Dartmouth College

10-5, 1-0

Harvard

6-8, 0-1

Dartmouth

Harvard

1/10/2015 8:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Dartmouth

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Junior Lakin Roland led four Big Green players in double figures with 25 points and nine rebounds, as Dartmouth defeated Harvard, 76-61, on Saturday afternoon at Lavietes Pavilion.

"Heading into the game, we talked about the process of the Ivy League schedule," head coach Belle Koclanes said. "Harvard's post play is very strong. We wanted to limit their opportunities. We did a good job holding Temi Fagbenle with positive possessions."

Senior Milica Toskovic added 15 points on 4-of-9 from the field and 3-of-4 from the outside. Toskovic also had five rebounds, three assists, one block and one big defensive stop late in the contest.

"Milica has made a great transformation this season as a mature leader," Koclanes said about her senior forward.

Sophomore Fanni Szabo contributed 14 points from the Big Green and made key free throws late in the contest for the visitors. Off the bench, classmate Katie Vareika was a spark plug once again connecting on all three from the outside and finished with 11 points.

With the win, Dartmouth (10-5, 1-0 Ivy) picks up its 10th win overall and open Ivy League play 1-0 for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

The Big Green shot 41 percent overall with 10 three-point field goals and an astonishing 22-of-28 from the charity stripe.

The venue was a basketball court, but the style of play in the first half looked more like a chess match as the frame saw 11 lead changes and five ties in just 20 minutes. The Big Green had six players contribute in the frame and went into the second-floor locker room with a 32-29 lead over the Crimson.

Harvard struck first on a layup by Annmarie Healy, who scored 12 first-half points on 5-of-8 shooting for Harvard. Dartmouth countered with a baseline three-pointer by Szabo. The teams then traded baskets with neither side holding a greater lead than two possessions. The Big Green though did hold the period's largest advantage of four, 25-21, off a layup by freshman Olivia Smith with 5:53 left. The visitors did end the half on a high note as Roland hit an ally-oop layup shot as the clock expired.

The Big Green shot 36 percent in the first with four three's and four free throws. Harvard shot 45 percent from the floor but struggled as Dartmouth forced 11 turnovers. Dartmouth capitalized on the Harvard's cough-ups with 10 points including an early layup by freshman Amber Mixon.

The Big Green continued to outshine the Crimson and opened its lead in the second to double digits, 42-31, on a three-pointer by Toskovic with 15:55 remaining to play. The squad's determination kept the lead in double figures the rest of the way for all but 24 second of the stanza. With the game out of reach, Dartmouth converted on 13-of-16 from the line in the final five minutes of the game.

Healy led the Crimson with 20 points and 11 rebounds, as the Crimson outrebounded the Big Green by a 42-37 margin. Inside scoring also went to the hosts, 34-18, but the Big Green did a phenomenal job holding Harvard's top scorer Temi Fagbenle to just six points and 10 rebounds. Erin McDonnell added 19 points for the Crimson and also pulled down nine boards.

"Rebounding will be an important part of the next game against Harvard," Koclanes said. "We will prepare and work on rebounding over the next week to try and combat the second chances and the points in the paint we allowed."

Harvard (6-8, 0-1 Ivy) shot 37 percent from the field but struggled with its ball control coughing up 17 turnovers, which led to 13 Big Green points off mistakes.

Dartmouth and Harvard will conclude the home-and-home series two weeks from today, when Leede Arena hosts the finale on Jan. 24.