“Our offensive strategies were just to execute because we have an unreal offensive system and all the talent to score,” McDonnell said. “We just tried to use all the tools in our toolkit and run our offenses…. When we run them, people can’t stop us.”

Yale guards Tamara Simpson and Sarju provided much of the offense for the visitors. On the game, the backcourt mates combined for 27 points on 12-of-25 shooting.

A matchup marked by intensity began just that way, as the opening tip-off turned right into a possession tie-up. A few seconds later, McDonnell began the game’s scoring with her first three of the evening.

The victory over the Bulldogs broke a three-game losing streak for Harvard, which now sits sixth in the Ivy League. Yale entered the contest without a conference loss and in a tie atop the league with undefeated Princeton, who now has sole possession of first place.

“I think this is a big turning point for us,” McDonnell said. “We’ve had some unfortunate tough losses, so I think we really needed this as a team to remember how good we are [and] how good we can be.”

—Staff writer Sam Danello can be reached at sdanello@college.harvard.edu.