HANOVER, N.H. - Columbia trailed by only four points at the half, but fell by a final score 76-56 in Leede Arena. Senior center Sarah Beato had a career day with a career-high 15 points and nine blocked shots.
At the start of the second half, Dartmouth went on a huge scoring run to put the team up by 20 points. The Lions came back to pull within 10 points, but the Big Green held off the comeback, going up by 20 again to end the game, 76-56.
Both teams started out slowly, with Columbia drawing first blood on a three from sophomore guard Michele Gage. Dartmouth took a 13-5 lead on two long-range threes from Jeannie Cullen and a layup from Ashley Taylor. The Lions did not back down and took a one point lead, 15-14, scoring on three straight possessions with five points from sophomore forward Brittney Carfora and a classic three-point play from Beato. Columbia increased the lead to 18-16 with a three from first-year guard Katrina Cragg.
The two teams traded baskets and the Big Green took a 21-20 lead with a three point play from Sydney Scott. The Lions took back the lead (23-21) as Gage hit all three of her free throws after being fouled on a shot behind the arc with 5:32 left to go in the half. After trading baskets, Dartmouth was able to gain a four-point lead (32-28) with a big basket before the end of the half from Scott.
After the first half, Carfora and Gage both had eight points with Gage grabbing a matching eight rebounds. For the Big Green, Scott had nine points and Krista Perry had six rebounds.
At the start of the second half, Gage scored five quick points, but the Big Green had an answer and took a 43-34 lead. The Big Green went on an 18-6 run to take a 61-41 lead. Columbia battled back, scoring 10 unanswered points, seven from Beato, to cut the lead to 10 points with 7:57 left in the game.
The Big Green, however, halted the Lions comeback and extended its lead to 20 points again to win 76-56.
For the Lions, Beato had a career-high in both points and blocks with 15 and nine, respectfully. Gage finished the game with a double-double, netting 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Cullen finished with a game-high 21 points for Dartmouth and Perry had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lions face Yale and Brown next weekend at home. Columbia battles the Bulldogs on Friday, February 10 and the Bears on Saturday, February 11. Both games are at 7 p.m.
