Harvard women's basketball knows two simple words that could mean everything in tonight's matchup against Boston University at Briggs Cage.

"Press" and "run."

"[BU's] a fast-breaking, pressing, scrappy team," Co-Captain Deb Flandermeyer said. "But we're definitely ready to play them."

"BU's a tough, physical team, and they like to put on the pressure and run," Head Coach Kathy Delaney Smith said. "But that's OK for us, because that's what we like to do, too."

Harvard's last game was a 93-73 win over Central Connecticut State last Wednesday, but with Saturday's contest at UMass literally blown off the schedule--the weekend storm prevented Harvard from travelling to Amherst--the Crimson is getting as antsy as a five-year-old on Christmas Eve.

But it doesn't look like lack of game time will hinder the Crimson's performance.

"We're very excited," Co-Captain Erin Maher said. "We're ready to show that we can play with the rest of the teams from Boston."

Not only is this squad primed to play--they're ready for some down-and-dirty hoops.

In addition to the fast-paced playing style both teams covet, Harvard boasts a clear height advantage. Flandermeyer (6'3") and sophomore Tammy Butler (6'1") top off the Crimson roster, while BU's dominant front line player is only 5'11."

"We need to get the ball inside all night, and focus on stopping their center," Flandermeyer said. "We have to use our height advantage."

BU's Julie Schmidt (who averages 15 points per game), Jill Sosnack (20 ppg), Ann Marie Olsen (10 points, 7 rebounds per game) and notoriously speedy point guard Andrea Higgins will lead the Terrier attack.

"Player for player, we are the better team," Maher said. "We just have to focus and get it together."

The game begins at 7p.m.. Admission is free.

California Dreamin'

But anyone who follows women's basketball at Harvard knows that it might be a bit difficult to concentrate on just BU tonight. It's inevitable that visions of Cardinals are dancing, pressing, rebounding, scoring and leaping in Crimson heads.