CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Abbey Hsu scored her 1,000th career point and the Columbia women's basketball team put six in double figures to blow past Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 95-57, Friday afternoon. The contest was the first game of the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament, hosted by the Hurricanes at the Watsco Center.
 
With family and friends from her hometown of nearby Parkland in the stands, Hsu stepped up to the free throw line with 46.4 seconds left in the first half and sank career points number 999 and 1,000. In doing so, she became the 12th player in program history to hit the milestone and the first since Camille Zimmerman '18CC back in December of 2016.
 
"I didn't know beforehand but Coach G told me after I hit those free throws," said Hsu, who currently sits 11th all-time with 1,002 career points. "It feels so good to be back home … and it's been nice to spend Thanksgiving with my family."  
Head coach Megan Griffith '07CC, who is also a member of Columbia's 1,000-point club, pulled Hsu aside to let her know she just scored her 1,000th point as the teams headed for the locker room at halftime. The junior guard went on to finish with a dozen points, three rebounds and three assists.
 
"It's amazing. This is what it's all about, celebrating small individual things that are part of our larger team goals," Griffith said. "I'm just really proud of her. She's worked for every one of those points."
 
The Lions (4-2) took a 46-32 lead into halftime and put any thoughts of an Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-3) comeback to rest in the third quarter. Columbia outscored the Golden Lions 21-6 over the final seven minutes of the period, including a 9-0 run over the last four minutes to balloon its lead to 28 heading to the fourth.
 
"Getting a convincing win is something we've been talking a lot to our team about," Griffith added. "It's a sign of maturity and growth that you can put a team away and I thought our team stuck to the game plan."
 
Jaida Patrick's bucket with 8:24 left made it a 30-point game for the first time. The senior from West Haverstraw, New York went on to score a game-high 16 points and added six rebounds and four steals. Paige Lauder and Susie Rafiu had six points apiece off the bench in the fourth quarter alone to help finish things off.
 
Hannah Pratt, who grew up in nearby Boca Raton, also had family and friends in the stands to watch her play. Pratt was efficient in 16 minutes, scoring 15 points by going 4-of-7 from the perimeter. First-years Perri Page and Susie Rafiu scored their first collegiate points, ending with 12 and nine, respectively.
 
Columbia now gets set to take on the tournament host for the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament title. Tip-off against the Hurricanes (6-1) is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the game live on ACC Network Extra.
 
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