ITHACA, N.Y. — Despite the Big Red coming out swinging and out-scoring Harvard in both the first and fourth quarter, Cornell takes a 72-60 loss to the Crimson on Saturday night falling to 5-15 overall and 1-6 in the Ivy League.

Cornell came out with a vengeance in the first quarter of play on defense using a team forward approach to contain the biggest threat shooters from Harvard. The Big Red held the Crimson to just 11 points in the first quarter and held its top scorer, Harmoni Turner to just one basket. This allowed Cornell to come out to a 12-11 lead at the end of the first. In the second quarter of play, Harvard was able to create more successful opportunities for themselves offensively, almost doubling their points in the quarter scoring 21 to Cornell's 13 to end the first half with a 32-25 lead over the Big Red. Harvard was able to maintain its lead over Cornell in the fourth quarter despite the Big Red out-scoring them 23-21.

Rachel Kaus matched her season high single-game points leading the Big Red with 17. Kelsey Langston broke her career high in points with six and also broke her career record for three-pointers made in a single game with two. Two other Big Red players hit double digits with Summer Parker-Hall notching 14 and Emily Pape having 10. Paige Engels and Audrey Chen each had five points and to round out Cornell, Clarke Jackson had two. Harvard was led by Harmoni Turner who put up 20 points, which is under her points per game average.

Turner's point total was limited due to the strength of Cornell's defense on the court. Langston was a major contributor in Cornell's defense which kept the Big Red in the game, even when shots were not falling. Both teams had three steals in the game. Cornell's steals came from Parker-Hall, Azareya Kilgoe and Vivienne Knee. 

The Big Red were out-rebounded 36-32 by the Crimson, but kept it close at the boards overall. Engels was aggressive off of the glass as she led the team with six rebounds. Parker-Hall, Pape and Kaus had five each, Jackson had four and Kilgoe and Chen each had one. Harvard was led in rebounds by Saniyah Glenn who had six.

Overall, the Big Red stood tall and competed aggressively with one of the top teams of the Ivy League on Saturday night and made an impact with its defensive strengths on the court against Harvard in the 72-60 loss.

UP NEXT
The Big Red will stay on the road as they take on Yale on Saturday, February 8 at 2:00 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.