by Cancun, MX — Oklahoma State improves to 2-0 in the Cancun Challenge and 6-1 on the season after defeating Harvard 71-62 on Friday at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.
Four OSU players finished in double figures with Claire Chastain netting 20 points and seven rebounds. Naomie Alnatas added 18, Lexy Keys and Anna Gret Asi with 12 each.
Harvard’s McKenzie Forbes led all scoring with 21 points and dished out three assists. Harmoni Turner finished with 14 points.
Harvard came out firing in the first four minutes of the opening quarter to lead 10-3. However, the sluggish start by the Cowgirls didn’t last long as they would go on a 13-0 run to take an 18-16 first-quarter lead.
OSU would extend that lead in the second quarter, 38-26, by outscoring the Crimson 20-10.
Harvard was able to cut the OSU lead down to 8 points using a 11-3 run in the third quarter. The Crimson outscored the Cowgirls 16-14 in the quarter.
Harvard cut further into the OSU lead in the fourth after a McKenzie Forbes three 2:41 left in the game to make it 62-59 Cowgirls. OSU would then go on a 9-3 run to close out the game.
This was only the second meeting all-time between the two programs. OSU defeated Harvard, 92-62, at the 2012 Surf N’ Slam Classic in San Diego.
Both teams will finish the Cancun Challenge on Saturday with Harvard facing Florida State at 11 a.m. ET and OSU playing Purdue at 1:30 p.m. ET. Both games will be streamed on FloHoops.
