Columbia
Richmond
Women's Basketball Holds Off Richmond 65-58 for First Win
11/13/2016 6:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
| Score by Quarter | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
| Columbia | 18 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 65 |
| Richmond | 5 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 58 |
| Stat Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Columbia | Richmond |
| FGM-A | 20-56 | 17-63 |
| FG% | 35.7% | 27.0% |
| 3FGM-A | 3-13 | 2-21 |
| 3FG% | 23.1% | 9.5% |
| FTM-A | 22-28 | 22-32 |
| FT% | 78.6% | 68.8% |
| Rebounds | 54 | 33 |
| Assists | 10 | 8 |
| Turnovers | 21 | 13 |
| Blocks | 5 | 3 |
| Steals | 5 | 12 |
| Individual Leaders | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Columbia | Richmond |
| Points | Camille Zimmerman (18) Paulina Koerner (18) |
Micaela Parson (20) |
| Rebounds | Camille Zimmerman (15) | Jaide Hinds-Clarke (8) |
| Assists | Three tied with 2 | Micaela Parson (3) |
| Steals | Tori Oliver (2) | Kylie Murphree (5) |
| Blocks | Camille Zimmerman (3) | Kylie Murphree (2) |
RICHMOND, Va. — Behind Camille Zimmerman's double-double, a career-high 18 points from Paulina Koerner and 15 from Tori Oliver, the Columbia women's basketball team earned its first victory of the season, holding on to defeat Richmond, 65-58, Sunday afternoon at the Robins Center.
Columbia (1-1) jumped out to an 18-5 lead after the first quarter, ending the period with 12 unanswered points over the final 4:15. Richmond (0-1) cut the lead to seven at halftime, 31-24, and got within three on two different occasions in the fourth quarter, but the Lions were able to fend off each rally by shooting 56-percent in the final period. A late 6-0 run sealed the victory, putting Columbia in front by nine with less than a minute remaining.
The win was the first in the head coaching career of Megan Griffith, who took over the program in March.
“This was a great team win,” commented Griffith. “Sticking to the game plan and jumping out early was big, and it put us in a good place. We were able to sustain that lead over four quarters, which shows a lot about our character.”
The Lions maintained that lead with strong defense and an impressive showing on the glass. Columbia outrebounded Richmond 54-33, using 19 offensive rebounds to create 17 second-chance points. The defense limited Richmond to 27-percent from the floor, including a 9.5-percent showing from 3-point range.
Zimmerman highlighted Columbia with 18 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for her second double-double in as many outings. The junior led Columbia in all three categories last season.
Koerner helped put the game away, scoring nine of her 18 points in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer off the glass with 8:02 left that put the Lions up eight. The sophomore shot 4-of-8 on the afternoon with a 9-for-10 mark at the foul line, also setting career marks in free throws made and attempted.
Oliver rounded out Columbia's double-figure scorers with 15. The senior shot 4-of-9 from the floor and knocked down seven of her 10 attempts at the charity stripe. She added eight rebounds, including seven on the defensive end. Oliver, Zimmerman and sophomore Josie Little (7) combined for 30 of Columbia's 54 boards.
For Richmond, Micaela Parson led all scorers with 20, but it came on just 3-of-13 shooting, scoring 14 of her points at the foul line. Preseason All-Atlantic 10 first teamer Janelle Hubbard scored 16.
Columbia's 12 consecutive points through the final minutes of the first quarter were scored by Zimmerman, Koerner and senior Devon Roeper. The three combined to shoot 5-of-8 during the run, which also included two free throws by Koerner. Zimmerman scored four points on offensive putbacks, including a bucket in the final 30 seconds that gave the Lions a 13-point lead.
After going without a 3-pointer the entire first quarter, the Lions buried two in the opening five minutes of the second. Sophomores Abby Lee and Emily Surloff knocked them down. helping the Lions maintain their double-digit lead. A 4-0 Richmond spurt through the last two minutes got the Spiders within single digits at the half.
Richmond cut Columbia's lead to a handful for the first time with a bucket on its first possession of the second half, but the Lions extended their lead back to 11 by scoring on three consecutive trips down the floor. Zimmerman scored off another offensive putback to start the run and Oliver scored on the next two possessions to force the Spiders to call timeout down 43-32 at the quarter's 3:47 mark.
Columbia carried a six-point lead into the fourth and fended off Richmond's multiple attempts to rally. Koerner's 3-pointer off the glass was answered by an and-1 from Parson and a Hubbard jumper to make it a 52-49 game with 7:10 left. Roeper scored the game's next three points, including a bucket in transition to pad the lead back to two possessions, but the Spiders were earning enough trips to the foul line to stay within striking distance.
Leading by three with less than four minutes remaining, Columbia clamped down on defense to put the game away. The Lions held Richmond to 0-for-9 shooting through the final minutes, with the team's only points coming at the foul line. Meanwhile, Columbia scored on baskets by Oliver and Koerner, which led to a 6-0 run that turned it back into a three-possession game.
Columbia has the week off before heading to St. Francis (PA) on Saturday. Tip is set for 4 p.m. at DeGol Arena.
Postgame Notes:
- Megan Griffith earned her first collegiate head coaching victory.
- Camille Zimmerman recorded her second double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds
- Paulina Koerner scored a career-high 18 points, also marking career-highs in free throws made and attempted (9-10)
- It was the first meeting in series history between Columbia and Richmond
- Columbia's +21 rebounding margin was its largest against a Div. I opponent since posting a +33 mark last December 1 against St. Francis (PA).
