On March 20, the Lions lost in a tight game to the Commodores in the play-in round of March Madness.

After receiving a surprise at-large bid, the first in program history, Columbia women’s basketball (23-7, 13-1 Ivy) had the chance to punch their way into March Madness. The only thing that first stood in the way was the Vanderbilt Commodores (23-9, 9-7 SEC), another play-in opponent. All eyes were on one of Columbia’s most notable players, Abbey Hsu (CC ‘24). Most recently, she received an Associate Press All-America Honorable Mention. 

After losing to Princeton in the Ivy Conference finals, the Lions were disappointed at losing their chance to compete in the NCAA tournament. But Selection Sunday gave the Lions a second chance at redemption.

Several watch parties were hosted on and around Columbia’s campus, one of the largest being at Levien Gymnasium. Students rushed in to pack the stands, and the crowd cheered at the live game that was projected. Every 3-pointer made fans rush to their feet with excitement, and Columbia students were often caught booing at Vanderbilt’s free throws. The air teemed with anxious energy.

The Lions and Commodores started head-to-head, ending the first quarter with a score of 13-13. By the second quarter, however, the tide turned in favor of Vanderbilt. At halftime it was 26-36, and many fans left Levien early after seeing the gaping score. The Lions continued to fight during the 3rd quarter, at one point catching up to 43-45. In the fourth quarter, the Lions went on a 6-0 run, and hope rose for fans. It was a close game, with the Lions trailing slightly behind the Commodores the whole time, but a Vanderbilt free throw with 2 seconds on the clock sealed the score: The Lions lost 68-72. 

Vanderbilt junior Iyana Moore proved to be an especially formidable opponent, scoring 22 points. From Columbia, Kitty Henderson (CC ‘25) had an exceptional game, scoring a total of 20 points. One of her biggest plays was scoring a 3-pointer with 2 minutes left on the clock, which sparked energy on the team and in the crowd. Despite Vanderbilt’s initial lead, Columbia fought hard the whole time. This Columbia women’s basketball season has been historic already, and fans can’t wait for next year… there’s nothing that raises school spirit like a good women’s basketball game!

Image via CUAthletics