NEW YORK, N.Y. - Despite a career-high 23 points from junior guard Megan Griffith, the Lions lost 62-61 to Delaware State in Columbia's home opener. The Lions dropped to 1-2 on the season while the Hornets improved to 3-0.
Columbia led by as many as 14 points with 16 minutes left in the second half but consecutive layups by Delaware State's Raquel Collier initiated a 13-1 run over a span of five minutes by the Hornets to cut the Lion's lead to two points with just under 11 minutes to play. Griffith hit a three at 10:17 to push the lead back to five points but Collier answered with a layup and the teams traded baskets over the next three minutes.
The Hornets tied the game at 2:01 on a basket by Ashlee Burbage and after four missed shots by Delaware State, Becky Hogue grabbed the defensive rebound and Griffith was fouled on the ensuing play.
Griffith made both free throws and the Hornets pushed the ball up and stalled until the shot clock was running out and Ronke Adedoyin made a layup to tie the game with 21 seconds on the clock.
Hogue got called for a foul and Adedoyin missed the first shot of a one-and-one. The ball was batted around and Delaware State retained possession. Burbage hit another contested layup to give the Hornets a two-point lead, 62-60, with five seconds remaining.
The Lions hurried the ball over mid-court and Griffith was fouled to the floor with 1.3 on the clock. Griffith hit the first free throw, but missed the second for the 62-61 final.
Griffith finished with 23 points, seven assists and one rebound. Shasta Henderson added 11 points and Michele Gage rounded out the double-digit scorers with 14 points. Hogue led the Lions with seven rebounds.
Collier led DSU with 14 points, while Jameka Smith and Najmah Fauntleroy each added 10. Katreem Palmer had a game-high nine rebounds.
The Lions shot 48.9 percent to DSU's 50.9. The Lions went 9-of-17 from behind the arc, while Delaware State hit just one three-pointer (1-5).
The Lions return to action on November 30, when they host St. Francis (N.Y.) in a 7 p.m. game.
