Columbia
Providence
Zimmerman's Game-Winner Lifts Lions over Providence in OT
12/7/2016 11:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
| Score by Quarter | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Final |
| Providence |
18 | 2 | 18 | 17 | 9 | 64 |
| Columbia |
5 | 10 | 26 | 14 | 11 | 66 |
| Stat Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Providence |
Columbia |
| FGM-A | 25-60 | 22-58 |
| FG% | 41.7% | 37.9% |
| 3FGM-A | 6-13 | 6-17 |
| 3FG% | 46.2% | 35.3% |
| FTM-A | 8-9 | 16-18 |
| FT% | 88.9% | 88.9% |
| Rebounds | 31 | 39 |
| Assists | 12 | 14 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 20 |
| Blocks | 2 | 2 |
| Steals | 6 | 11 |
| Individual Leaders | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Providence |
Columbia |
| Points | Sarah Beal (17) | Camille Zimmerman (27) |
| Rebounds | Aliyah Miller (7) | Camille Zimmerman (10) |
| Assists | Sarah Beal (5) |
Camille Zimmerman (4) |
| Steals |
Yoyo Nogic (3) |
|
| Blocks | Yoyo Nogic (1) Maddie Jolin (1) |
Devon Roeper (1) Janiya Clemmons (1) |
NEW YORK — Junior Camille Zimmerman scored a season-high 27 points, including the game-winning shot with 7.5 seconds remaining in overtime, to lift the Columbia women's basketball team over Providence, 66-64, Wednesday night at Levien Gymnasium. It was the program's first win against any of the current members of the BIG EAST.
Columbia (6-2) erased an 18-5, first-quarter deficit, taking its first lead thanks to a 10-0 run in the third quarter. The lead changed hands eight times in the fourth quarter. With the Lions holding a one-point advantage, Providence's (7-2) Aliyah Miller hit 1 of 2 at the free throw line with 13 seconds remaining to force overtime.
The Lions trailed just once in the extra period, but regained the lead at the 2:58 mark thanks to back-to-back baskets by Zimmerman. Providence tied the game three more times, including a Sarah Beal and-1 opportunity that leveled things at 64 with 22 seconds left.
Zimmerman, who also led all players with 10 rebounds, received the ball between the circles on the ensuing possession. Letting the clock wind down, she dribbled toward the right wing with her back to a Providence defender and faked a handoff to sophomore Paulina Koerner before taking off toward the basket. Using her right hand, she scooped the ball up and watched as it bounced multiple times on the back of the rim before settling in the net.
“It was just how we drew it up,” said Zimmerman, who recorded her Ivy League-leading fifth double-double of the season. “Paulina (Koerner) came off of a handoff and I faked it. Everyone executed and did their part and the shot went in.”
Providence quickly inbounded the ball and rushed down the court, but Columbia's defense was up to the task. By the time the Friars got a shot off, the final horn had already sounded, as the Lions celebrated their first BIG EAST win in their ninth try against the league's current members.
“We cleared the floor, spaced everything out and Camille had a nice take there at the end,” head coach Megan Griffith stated. “We wanted to get them thinking we were going a certain direction and it worked out. Having the ball in Camille's hands at the end of the game is definitely a good thing.”
Zimmerman connected on 12 of 22 shots, including 3 of 5 in the overtime period. The Tempe, Arizona, native also led the Lions with four assists and three steals. Senior Tori Oliver joined Zimmerman in double figures with 13 points and added seven rebounds.
The Lions held Providence to 41.7-percent shooting, which was well shy of its nearly 48-percent mark that ranked ninth in the NCAA coming into the contest. Beal led the visitors with 17 points on 6 of 16 from the floor. Yoyo Nogic, Clara Che and Miller also scored in double figures.
The Friars suffered their second straight Ivy League loss after opening the season 7-0. The Friars fell to Brown on Sunday, 77-70, in the Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament.
Providence connected on its first six shots of the night, jumping ahead of Columbia, 18-5, at the end of the first quarter. The Lions turned it over five times in the opening period and hit just 2 of 13 from the field.
Columbia got back in the game by holding Providence without a point from the 2:29 mark of the first quarter all the way until the 1:50 mark of the second quarter. In the meantime, the Lions went on a 10-0 run, making it a five-point game, 20-15, at the half.
Zimmerman scored 18 of her 27 points in the second half and overtime, including four straight during a 10-0, third-quarter Columbia run that gave the Lions their first lead. Triples by sophomore Abby Lee and junior Alexa Giuliano kept the Lions in front, 41-38, heading to the fourth.
The Lions never led by more than three points, seeing that margin once more when sophomore Emily Surloff buried a triple from straight away that made it a 45-42 game with just over six minutes left in regulation. Providence took a one-point lead into the final minute of the fourth quarter, but Zimmerman put Columbia back ahead on a basket with 20 seconds remaining.
Miller got to the line with 13 seconds remaining. She missed the first, but knocked down the second attempt to force the extra period.
Columbia shot 63 percent in overtime. Koerner drained a 3-pointer to break a 61-all tie with less than 1:30 remaining. Oliver fouled out on Beal's and-1 opportunity with 22 seconds left. Beal missed the free throw, but the Lions were called for a lane violation, giving Providence another shot to tie the game. Beal made good use of the extra attempt, but the Friars could not stop Zimmerman from winning it for the Lions.
Columbia heads upstate to Binghamton on Saturday for an afternoon battle with the Bearcats. Tip is set for noon at the Events Center in Vestal, N.Y.
Postgame Notes:
- Zimmerman scored a season-high 27 points, notching her fifth 20-point game and fifth double-double of the season.
- Columbia earned its first victory over the BIG EAST's 10 current members. The Lions were 0-8 heading into the contest.
- It was the first ever matchup in women's basketball between Columbia and Providence.
- It was Columbia's first overtime game of the season. The Lions last OT win came January 6 of last year at Fairleigh Dickinson.
