The Lions asked Victory to be their Valentine… and they said yes!

On a festive February 14 evening at Levien Gymnasium, the Columbia Lions faced off against the University of Pennsylvania Quakers. Penn’s deep red and Columbia’s crisp white uniforms, both bearing accents of pink, set the stage for a high-energy Valentine’s Day matchup. Pink “play4Kay” shirts sprinkled the sideline. This game was dedicated to supporting and fundraising for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, an organization that, per their website, “awards grants towards life-saving cancer research and quality cancer healthcare for under-resourced women”.

Following the loss to Penn during their previous encounter on January 31, tensions were high, everyone in the stadium wondering if Columbia was going to successfully reclaim dominance. The Lions were quick to make their intentions clear with a first quarter score of 17-7. They swiftly followed up with an additional ten points just minutes into the second quarter, giving Columbia a strong 20 point advantage, electrifying the home crowd. 

Much of that early momentum and point cushion was made by Riley Weiss (CC ‘27), who continues to collect accolades this season. On Tuesday, junior guard Weiss was named an Associated Press Honorable Mention of the Week and once again was honored by Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association as Women’s Division I Player of the Week.

The Quakers desperately struggled to find consistent rhythm offensively, encountering a prolonged no-score streak, but managed to regain some traction, securing a few points. By halftime, the Lions still led with a score of 30-15. The break brought a lighter tone to the evening with a Valentine’s themed teddy bear toss replacing the usual t-shirt launch. The gymnasium felt unmistakably festive with fans dressed in red, pink and purple, cheerleaders waving bright pink pom-poms and an atmosphere that blended competitive school spirit with lovely holiday flair.

Penn came into the third quarter with a renewed, fiery spirit, but Columbia maintained control. By the end of the quarter, the Lions led by 47-32, preserving their strong lead. At one moment, the gap even stretched to over 20 points, displaying Columbia’s defensive pressure and composure.

Despite this, the fourth quarter brought a moment of tension. With a little over four minutes remaining, Penn shaved down the difference to a mere eight points, putting the crowd back on edge. However, well-timed three pointers from Weiss and Mia Broom (CC ‘28) halted the Quakers’ surge and restored Columbia’s control.

Ultimately, Columbia emerged victorious with a win of 69-56, almost exactly flipping the 64-55 loss they suffered from Penn on January 31. On a night defined by festive pom-poms and teddy bears, the Lions provided something much sweeter: redemption.

Columbia plays next at Dartmouth on Saturday, February 21 at 2 pm. 

Their next home game is their senior day against Harvard on March 7 at 2 pm.

Let’s go Lions!

Image via Author