MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Columbia outscored Memphis by 12 in the fourth quarter to win its 2022-23 season opener, 77-69, Monday night at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
 
The Lions (1-0) had three in double figures, led by junior guard Abbey Hsu's game-high 24 points. The Becky Hammon Preseason Watch List nominee was 7-of-15 from the floor and 4-of-9 from the perimeter, also filling up the stat sheet with five rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal. Hannah Pratt added 15 points, six boards and six assists, while Jaida Patrick netted 14 with four rebounds two assists and a pair of blocks.
 
After trailing by as many as nine and entering the fourth quarter down by four, the Lions were on the right side of a huge momentum swing. Kitty Henderson was intentionally fouled on a breakaway opportunity, which led to two free throws by Pratt and a bucket inside by Hsu, completing a four-point possession and tying the game up at 54.
 
Columbia extended that into a 10-2 run to take a 60-56 lead and never gave it up. The Lions were 6-of-10 from the floor and 14-of-16 at the charity stripe over the final 10 minutes, outscoring the Tigers (0-1) 27-15 in the period to walk out on top.
 
"It feels great. It's fun to be able to grind out a win on the road, especially in a hard place to play," Columbia head coach Megan Griffith said. "I have a lot of respect for Memphis and I think they are going to do well this year, and it was just good to see our players stick together and grind that out."
 
A big part of Monday night's success was figuring out something that plagued the Lions last year. The same team that ranked 335th during the 2021-22 season in free throws percentage (.630), and returned over 98 percent of its scoring from a year ago, came out and knocked down 24-of-30 (.800) on opening night.
 
"This was just a good team win overall. We got down in the beginning but really fought in the fourth quarter," Pratt said. "We really locked in at the end there and … we're playing to win."
 
Pratt got the start and played big all night, leading all Lions with a plus-13 on the stat sheet. She also came through in the second half, combining for 11 of her 15 points over the final 20 minutes as her team mounted the comeback.
 
Memphis used a 14-2 run to end the first quarter up by nine and take early control. Columbia trailed throughout the second quarter but got two threes in the final 30 seconds to cut the margin to two at the break. Kitty Henderson's triple with one second left made it a 34-32 game.
 
The Lions tied it up for the first time since the first quarter on a triple by Patrick to make it 38-38. The Tigers put Columbia in the bonus with 4:05 left in the period to help the Lions get to the foul line 10 times. Memphis combatted their foul troubles by going 8-of-19 from the field to retain a four-point advantage heading to the fourth.
 
Just as they did nine times last season, Columbia overcame yet another fourth-quarter deficit to win.
 
The Lions will prepare for the next game at Delaware (1-0), which takes place Thursday night from the Bob Carpenter Center.
 
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