Preview: Yale Bulldogs at Harvard Crimson — Women’s Basketball CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Interstat) — Ivy League women’s basketball rivals Yale and Harvard will meet Friday night at Lavietes Pavilion, with the host Crimson looking to solidify a winning season record while the visiting Bulldogs seek to reverse a difficult stretch. Harvard (10-8 overall) enters with momentum from a dominant 84-38 road victory over Cornell on Jan. 24. The Crimson’s offense was spearheaded by junior guard Olivia Jones, who delivered a standout performance with 17 points and 10 assists. Jones averages 9.7 points and 4.2 assists per game and has been a consistent catalyst, including a 22-point effort in a Jan. 3 win at Dartmouth. Yale (5-13) aims to rebound from a 64-37 home loss to Penn on that same Saturday. The Bulldogs have lost four of their last five games, with their lone win in that span a 58-43 victory at Cornell on Jan. 19. A key figure for Yale is sophomore forward Mary Meng, who leads the team in rebounding. Meng is coming off a 10-rebound, 3-assist performance against Penn and nearly posted a double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds against Princeton on Jan. 10. The matchup features a contrast in recent trajectories. Harvard has won three of its last four, showcasing a balanced attack that includes freshman Mary Hollensteiner, who scored 22 points against Cornell. Yale has struggled offensively, failing to reach 60 points in four of its last five contests. Defensively, the Bulldogs will rely on Meng’s presence in the paint, where she averages 2.1 blocks per game. Containing Jones’ playmaking will be critical for Yale to slow Harvard’s rhythm. This contest opens a crucial back-to-back weekend for both teams. Harvard will host Brown on Saturday, while Yale travels to face Dartmouth. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Friday. The teams will meet again in New Haven, Connecticut, on Feb. 13.