NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Interstat) — Karlee White scored 35 points and Harvard used a dominant first quarter to establish a lead it would never relinquish, defeating Yale 70-62 in a women’s Ivy League basketball game Friday night at Payne Whitney Gymnasium.

The Crimson, improving to 14-8 overall, raced to a 22-11 advantage after the opening period. White, a 5-foot-9 guard from Burbank, California, was instrumental from the start, scoring 10 of her game-high total in the first quarter as Harvard built its early cushion. The visiting team’s interior offense was overwhelming, finishing with a 52-30 advantage in points in the paint.

Yale, which fell to 5-17, chipped away at the deficit but could never draw even. The Bulldogs closed to within six points on multiple occasions in the second half, the last at 60-54 with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Each time, Harvard responded, often through White, who scored 14 of her points in the final period.

The most critical sequence came with just under seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter and Harvard leading 50-45. Yale’s Luisa Vydrova committed a turnover, which White stole and converted into a layup while being fouled. She completed the three-point play, pushing the lead back to eight points and halting Yale’s momentum. The Bulldogs would not get closer than six points the rest of the way.

White’s efficiency was notable, making 17 of her 30 field goal attempts despite connecting on only one of six from three-point range. She added two assists and two steals in 36 minutes. Her backcourt mate, Katie Krupa, facilitated the offense with a game-high seven assists to go with nine points.

Yale was led by a stellar performance from Ciniya Moore, who countered with 32 points on 11-of-22 shooting. The 5-foot-10 guard from Bradenton, Florida, played all 40 minutes and added four rebounds. Center Mary Meng, a 6-foot-5 freshman from Grafton, Ohio, provided a formidable presence inside with 10 points, five blocked shots and nine rebounds.

Harvard’s defense was disruptive, forcing 19 Yale turnovers and converting them into 27 points. The Crimson committed 12 turnovers of their own, leading to 10 points for the Bulldogs. Abigail Wright provided a key secondary scoring option for Harvard with 12 points, all coming in the paint.

Despite Yale shooting a higher percentage from the field (47.8% to 50%) and from three-point range (50% to 26.7%), Harvard’s volume of attempts, created by nine offensive rebounds and Yale’s turnovers, proved decisive. The Crimson attempted 14 more field goals than the Bulldogs.

Harvard also received a solid all-around contribution from Olivia Jones, who had eight points, three assists, three steals and a block. For Yale, Vydrova finished with 11 points and Marisa Chapman dished out four assists.

The game was a reversal of the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 30, which Harvard won by 28 points in Cambridge. This contest was tighter, but the Crimson’s early burst and ability to answer every Yale rally secured the season sweep.

Harvard next plays at Brown on Saturday. Yale will host Dartmouth on Saturday.

Attendance was 571 at Payne Whitney Gymnasium.