In a thrilling weekend, Harmoni Turner propelled Harvard back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 18 years by delivering a phenomenal performance that will be remembered in the history of the Ivy League Tournament.
The senior guard not only led her team to a 74-71 victory over Columbia but was also named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Turner’s heroics during the tournament began with a record-breaking performance in the semifinals against Princeton, where she scored 44 points.
Her impressive scorer’s mentality and leadership helped secure Harvard’s return to the NCAA Tournament, a feat not achieved since their shocking upset over No. 1 Stanford back in the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
The milestone victory is Harvard’s first appearance at the NCAAs since 2007, a testament to Turner’s transformative impact on the team.
Speaking emotionally about the achievement, Harvard coach Carrie Moore, who has been nurturing the team for the past three years, emphasized the dedication and sacrifices required for such accomplishments, expressing heartfelt gratitude for the team’s hard work.
“Today means everything. This is everything I’ve worked for,” Moore expressed.
The final game was a nail-biter that saw Harvard control a tight lead into the closing moments. With 17.6 seconds on the clock, Harvard held a five-point advantage that Columbia nearly erased after scoring three quick points, bringing the score to 74-71.
Although Harvard missed an opportunity to put the game away, Columbia’s final attempt to tie the game fell short, as Riley Weiss missed a crucial three-pointer just before the horn.
Weiss led Columbia with 21 points, underscoring a valiant attempt by the Lions.
Harvard (24-4) has now advanced to the finals of the Ivy Tournament twice in the past three years, although their last appearance against Princeton in 2023 ended in defeat.
Columbia, despite winning their first regular-season title outright, suffered their third title game loss in four years. They lost to Princeton in 2022 and 2024. The Lions will now look to receive an at-large bid for the second year running after a promising season. Last year, Columbia made a historic foray into the NCAA Tournament, narrowly missing out in a play-in game against Vanderbilt.
Significantly, the Ivy League could potentially send two teams, including Princeton, to the NCAA Tournament this year, marking a potential first in history for the conference.
The first half of the thrilling final was characterized by end-to-end action, with Turner helping Harvard secure a 34-26 lead before Columbia closed the gap, ending the first half at 44-42. Turner’s first-half dominance was bolstered by reaching the 2,000-point mark in her career, a remarkable achievement that sees her become only the third player in Harvard history to do so.
