The weather outside was frightful last night. Ice, snow, and a sub-zero windchill would have made a polar bear feel chilly.

But Central Connecticut might have preferred it to the pain the Harvard women's basketball team was inflicting inside Briggs Cage.

The Crimson crushed Central Connecticut, 93-73.

"We were much better than them," Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney Smith said. "In every aspect of the game we were superior."

No ifs, ands or buts there. A simple statement. A truthful analysis.

This one was over early. Ronnie-Reagan-bedtime early. Harvard jumped out to a 15-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game. In that time it threw down three trifectas: Junior guards Kelly Morrison and Cara Frey connected from international waters on back-to-back possessions.

"Our early start was key to our success," Co-Captain Erin Maher said. "We thought they would have a good team, so we needed to come out strong."

The quick start set the tone for the Crimson in the first half. The three point shot became Harvard's best friend.

Leading the way was Frey--who drilled three threes and went into the half with 11 points.

As a team, Harvard nailed six of nine treys for an amazing .667 shooting percentage.

In addition to the great shooting, the Crimson's passing was sharp. Throughout the first half, Harvard displayed interior passing that resembled the '86 Celtics--the NBA's greatest passing team ever.

All this added up to a Harvard halftime lead of 47-28.

Almost everyone in the building thought this one was over, and it was. But, someone must have forgotten to tell Harvard.

Cambridge's finest came bursting out of the half with a 22-8 run, giving them a 69-36 lead.

The first six minutes became "Maher time."