NEW YORK — First year guard Abbey Hsu recorded a near double-double behind a team-high 22 points to go with eight rebounds, but the Columbia women's basketball team had its home opener spoiled by Saint Joseph's, 71-57, Thursday night inside Levien Gymnasium.
 
At the half, Columbia (0-2) led 32-30 as Hsu banked in a layup with just five seconds left on the clock. Saint Joseph's (1-0) went on to open the third quarter on an 11-4 run and Columbia would not lead again.
 
"We showed a lot of indecision and uncertainty in the second half," head coach Megan Griffith stated. "We looked like a young team with a lot of our indecision. We didn't really play our basketball and that's something we just need to get better at in the gym tomorrow."
 
A 13-0 fourth-quarter run gave the Hawks their largest lead of 19 points. Saint Joe's shot 60 percent in the second half and was led by freshman Claire Melia, who finished the night with a game-high 23 points.
 
Hsu finished the night 10-of-17 from the floor, going 7-of-10 over the first 20 minutes to account for 50 percent of Columbia's first-half scoring. Sienna Durr was limited by foul trouble but joined Hsu in double figures for the Lions. The sophomore managed 10 points in addition to four rebounds in 15 minutes.
 
Columbia won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Hawks 40-35, including an 18-7 edge in offensive boards. The Lions also blocked seven shots, their most in a game in nearly four years. First year Kaitlyn Davis and junior transfer Kallin Spiller had two blocks apiece.
 
A competitive first half saw 11 ties and the lead change hands 15 times. Hsu scored 10 of her 16 first-half points in the second quarter, including six straight Columbia points over the final 1:34 turn a four-point deficit into a 32-30 lead. Neither side led by more than four the entire first half.
 
Katie Jekot hit the first 3-point shot for either side at the 1:39 mark of the third quarter. It capped a 5-0 SJU spurt to send the visitors into the final 10 minutes leading by eight.
 
Hsu scored 13 seconds into the fourth quarter but Saint Joe's followed with 13 straight points to put the game out of hand. Senior Stephanie Flynn hit a triple from the corner with 2:28 left to prevent the Lions from getting shutout from beyond the arc.
 
"We're more concerned about our defense," Griffith added. "Saint Joe's did a really nice job of running their action and being disciplined. Kudos to Saint Joe's ... we were settling and indecisive."
 
The Lions return to Levien this Sunday, Nov. 10, to face Fordham at 2 p.m. on ESPN+. 

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