ALBANY, N.Y. – Playing in her first collegiate game, sophomore Hannah Pratt hit a game-tying bucket with 7.9 seconds remaining to bring the Columbia women's basketball team back from as many as 12 down and force overtime in Tuesday night's season opener at Albany. The Lions needed one more game-tying bucket in the final seconds of the extra period but could not find it, falling just short, 82-78, at SEFCU Arena.
Despite the result, Columbia (0-1) showed resolve and promise from some new faces. First-year Kaitlyn Davis shot 10-of-15 from the floor, finishing the night with 23 points and a game-high 13 rebounds in her collegiate debut. Pratt also posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards, while another new face, Abbey Hsu, netted 13 points. Senior Janiya Clemmons made it four in double figures, scoring a dozen while adding eight rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot.
"We just have to take the lessons away from this game and grow from them," fourth-year head coach Megan Griffith stated. "We shouldn't feel bad about losing this game or harp on what we didn't do, it's about fixing those things, adjusting and adapting.
"I was really proud of this team tonight and I thought we showed a lot of fight. We had some really young lineups on the floor, which we knew would happen, but we also had people step up which was good to see. We know not everybody performed to the level they probably wanted to but that's okay, as long as we stay the course and get back to work tomorrow."
Columbia outrebounded Albany 53-35, including 21-12 on the offensive glass, and outscored the Great Danes 60-38 in the paint. Even though the Lions hit five more field goals and outshot Albany in its own gym, the home team made up for it with nine threes and a 13-5 advantage in points at the charity stripe.
After Albany increased its lead to eight with the first basket of the second half, the Lions responded with an 11-4 run that saw all 11 points come from a pair of rookies. Davis got it started with two quick buckets less than five seconds apart and Hsu traded field goals with Alexi Schecter to keep it a four-point game. Davis then spotted up for three right in front of the Columbia bench, sending her teammates into jubilation as the margin was cut to a single point.
First-year point guard Carly Rivera went on to give the Lions their first lead of the night with her first career points. She followed with a coast-to-coast drive that put the Lions up three and forced Albany to call for time.
Madison Hardy connected from deep to keep the run going and Pratt scored a tick before the third-quarter buzzer to send the Lions into the final 10 minutes up five, 54-49. The Lions outscored Albany 20-9 over the period's final 6:37.
"We finally turned it on in the second half.," Griffith added. "The effort was spread out across. Unfortunately, we dug ourselves a hole really early. Sometimes you have to make that extra push and we never got back to that next level after our initial return."
Albany opened the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run to regain the lead. The Lions stayed within striking distance and got their chance. Leading by two with 17 seconds left in regulation, Albany's Morgan Haney missed her second free throw Davis came down with the rebound. Clemmons dished the rock to Pratt in the lane, who drove left and scored with her left hand to force overtime.
Alexi Schecter broke a 76-all tie with a 3-point play midway through overtime and Albany took a four-point advantage into the final minute. Again, the Lions fought back, slicing the lead in half on a Davis bucket inside. Sienna Durr then came up with a block that gave Columbia a shot to force double overtime, but a couple of looks in traffic from right underneath did not fall.
For Albany, Schecter ended with a game-high 31 points and registered a double-double with 11 rebounds. She closed an 11-4 run early in the second quarter that resulted in the home team's 12-point lead. Kyara Frames scored 17, Morgan Haney scored 14 while Amanda Kantzy posted a double-double.
The Lions host Saint Joseph's on Thursday for their home opener. Tip-off from Levien Gymnasium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For the latest on the Columbia women's basketball program, follow @CULionsWBB on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaWBB, on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
