NEW YORK – Five Lions scored in double figures, led by 19 from Kaitlyn Davis, and the Columbia women's basketball team successfully handled New York University in an exhibition, 89-55, Sunday afternoon from Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium.
More importantly, the game was a welcome return to basketball. It was the first basketball contest open to the general public since the COVID-19 pandemic began and since the Lions closed out the regular season on March 7, 2020. Sunday marked 603 days since that game and saw a few hundred fans turn out to see the two local teams compete.
"It felt great. I woke up this morning with a different bounce in my step and I think our players did too," Columbia head coach Megan Griffith said. "I'm just really happy to see people back in the stands and see our players in their jerseys."
Columbia used a 14-0 first-quarter run to create all the separation it needed for the remainder of the afternoon. The Lions led by as many as 15 in the first quarter and expanded the margin to 19 when Nicole Stephens scored off a turnover to make it 39-20 with 4:30 left in the half.
NYU hung around to get back within a dozen early in the third quarter, but Columbia just proved to be too much. A 16-1 run through the middle stages of the third quarter that started with buckets by Kaitlyn Davis, Sienna Durr and Abbey Hsu ended with both Jaida Patrick and Hannah Pratt knocking down triples to bust the game open.
"When we're aggressive we can be really good," Griffith added. "Some of the in-game jitters like missing so many free throws -- I'm not worried about that. We'll figure that stuff out. It was great to see a lot of new faces out there in Columbia jerseys. I think we're going to have a really bright future with them."
One of those newcomers, Duke transfer Jaida Patrick, scored 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Hsu netted the same amount while Durr and Pratt each finished with 10. Carly Rivera dished out a game-high nine assists.
"It was awesome. There are really no words to describe it," Rivera said. "It was just a lot of fun getting to play together and show everyone what Columbia women's basketball has been working on for the past year and a half. It's great to get a game in like that before we start our season."
Aside from Patrick, newcomers Mary Lobon, Eden Gainer, Paige Lauder, Kitty Henderson, Nicole Stephens and Noa Comesaña all saw time on the floor. Comesaña started and scored three points. Lauder had seven off the bench.
Columbia shot 54 percent from the floor and was 7-of-21 from 3-point land, which helped it overcome a 44-percent showing on 41 attempts from the free throw line. The Lions held the Violets to 36 percent shooting and under 30 percent from deep. Belle Pellecchia and Jordan Janowski led the visitors with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
The 2021-22 season gets underway at home on Tuesday, November 9, against Hampton. Tip is set for 7 p.m. ET.
For the latest on the Columbia women's basketball, follow @CULionsWBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
