The Lions defeat LIU 65-55 after a slow first quarter. 

Coming off of a brutal 75-87 loss to the University of Massachusetts, the Lions were poised to return to winning ways. Before Monday night’s game, Columbia (9-3) stood 8-3 with its only losses coming against UMass (10-2), Mizzou (9-2), and Stony Brook (8-1). Interestingly enough, Princeton University (7-3) and the University of Pennsylvania (4-7), who were ranked first and second respectively in the preseason Ivy League Conference rankings, both sit below Columbia in the current Ivy League standings. Although the Lions had a shaky start to their game against the LIU Sharks (0-10), they quickly turned the game around after the half.

Phantoms from the UMass game lingered over the Lions in the first quarter. Shots would not go in, defensive mistakes piled up, and LIU had a 15-4 lead after only four minutes. The Sharks made five of their eight three-point attempts in the first quarter alone. Luckily, Columbia, led by Kaitlyn Davis (CC ‘23) and Kitty Henderson (CC ‘25), turned it around shortly after. With five minutes left in the half, Sienna Durr (CC ‘23) drained a shot from outside the arc, putting the Lions up 29-27 and giving them their first lead of the game. The remaining five minutes of the second quarter were a defensive battle that ended in a 36-36 tie. 

Upon their return from the locker room, the Lions presented an excellent second half that resembled the beginning of the season–especially in the defensive realm. The Sharks were held to 23% shooting in the third quarter and 33% in the final quarter, giving Columbia room to extend their lead. The Lions capitalized on their defensive prowess and made sure LIU would not be able to come back. Four players–Davis, Henderson, Durr, and Abbey Hsu (CC ‘24)–scored in double digits. Davis earned her fourth double-double of the season with 12 rebounds to go with her 15 points.

The Lions currently lead the Ivy League Conference in points scored, points-per-game, field goals made, and assists, not to mention in overall standings as well. Hsu leads the entire Ivy League in points-per-game, three-pointers-made-percentage, and three-pointers-made while Carly Rivera (SEAS ‘23) leads the conference in assists and assists-per-game and is third in total steals. Davis ranks second in total rebounds, points scored, and free throws made as well as third in field-goals-made-percentage. Columbia is primed to dominate the Ivy League when conference play begins on January 2.

The Lions will play their next game at home on December 28 against Hofstra.

lions v. sharks via mclt