Photo: www.gocolumbialions.com

And just like that, Columbia football is off the schneid, snapping their five-game losing streak with a convincing 30-20 win over Cornell.  The team took care of the ball when they had it (just one turnover in an area that’s plagued the team all year) and forced an impressive six turnovers on defense, including four key second-half interceptions that prevented Cornell from keeping it close.  Neither M.A. Olawale nor Sean Brackett, who split duty at quarterback, put up overwhelming statistics, but both did just enough to keep the Lions out front.  Olawale, typically the team’s starter, entered the game in the second half and provided a crucial spark, rushing for two touchdowns, the latter padding the team’s lead and insuring a victory.  The team will host Brown next Saturday for the final game of the season.  More news after the jump.

After a tough loss to Yale Saturday, the volleyball team outlasted Brown in a five-set thriller to wrap up their season with a 12-15 record.  As volleyball ends, swimming and diving begin: while the women’s team fell to Yale, the men flew past the Bulldogs in the meet’s final relay to capture the win in their first home meet.

The cross country teams traveled to Boston for this weekend’s NCAA Northeast Regionals, and both the men and women turned in strong performances, finishing fourth and eighth, respectively.  They’ll next run at the NCAA National Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Lastly, basketball season gets underway this week–the women’s team took down Sacred Heart, 79-55, in their first game, and the men’s team open their slate at Depaul on Tuesday.