Lions Take On Villanova Sunday Afternoon at Levien
12/2/2023 3:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Columbia hosts its third Big East matchup of the season
NEW YORK – Columbia (4-4) and Villanova (5-1) meet in women's basketball for the first time in nearly two decades on Sunday when the Wildcats visit Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium. The game's opening tip is set for 2 p.m. ET.
TICKETS
• Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com/Tickets. Fans can also purchase tickets on-site at the ticket window, located at the main entrance on the southeast corner of 120th and Broadway.
TOY DRIVE
• Fans are encouraged to donate a new/unopened toy to benefit Cool Kids NY. All fans who donate will be entered to win a Columbia Athletics prize pack. The winner will be announced in the fourth quarter of the game.
GAME COVERAGE
• Fans unable to attend Sunday afternoon's game can tune in live on ESPN+. Lance Medow and Maren Walseth with be on the call. Live stats are available courtesy of GoColumbiaLions.com. Lions fans can also follow the team on social media (@CULionsWBB) for live updates.
WHAT TO KNOW:
LAST TIME OUT
• Highlighted by a career day from sophomore Perri Page, Columbia disposed of Providence, 77-52, on Wednesday. The game was played in front of 2,357 fans at Levien Gymnasium, most of whom were students who attended as part of Education Day from more than 20 New York City schools.
• Page scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds to post her first collegiate double-double. She was one of three Lions to score in double figures, led by Abbey Hsu's game-high 19. Cecelia Collins chipped in with 10.
• After Providence whittled a 22-point deficit down to 12, Columbia began the fourth quarter on a 12-0 run and never looked back. The Lions outscored the Friars, 20-7, in the final period, leading by as many as 27 before all was said and done.
POWER-CONFERENCE SUCCESSToday's @nyphospital Player of the Game, Perri Page! @PagePerri 🍐
— Columbia Women's Basketball (@CULionsWBB) November 29, 2023
First Double-Double
👉 Career-high 1️⃣8️⃣ Points
👉 Career-high 1️⃣0️⃣ Rebounds#RoarLionRoar // #EDGE // #OnlyHere 🦁🏀🗽 pic.twitter.com/9CGOh01VPO
• Since Megan Griffith became the head coach in 2016, the Lions are 7-1 against opponents from the Big East Conference. The Lions are 2-0 against the conference so far this season, defeating both Seton Hall, 72-61, and Providence, 77-52, at Levien Gymnasium.
• Columbia owns 12 wins in its last 26 games against power-six opponents. The span began in Griffith's first season leading the program in 2016 with an overtime win at home over Providence. The Lions opened the 2017-18 season by defeating the Friars on the road, 73-64. The Lions also earned their first ACC win that year when they defeated Boston College, 68-60, at Levien Gymnasium.
COLUMBIA BASKETBALL ALL-TIME SCORERS
• Abbey Hsu is currently No. 5 in Columbia basketball history in scoring (men's or women's). She has 1,684 career points and recently passed Mike Smith (1,653) for a top-five spot.
• Hsu is currently No. 25 among active NCAA Div. I players in career points.
| Columbia Basketball All-Time Scoring Leaders | Points |
|---|---|
| (W) Camille Zimmerman (2014-18) | 1,973 |
| (M) Buck Jenkins (1989-93) | 1,767 |
| (M) Jim McMillian (1967-70) | 1,758 |
| (M) Maodo Lo (2012-16) | 1,756 |
| (W) Abbey Hsu (2019-pres.) | 1,684 |
| (M) Mike Smith (2016-20) | 1,653 |
PROVIDENCE POSTGAME NOTES
• Along with her 18 points and 10 rebounds, Perri Page also posted career-highs in field goals made (7), field goal attempts (11), field goal percentage (.636), 3-pointers made (2-2), assists (3) and minutes (28).
• Abbey Hsu made her 600th career field goal. She is 40 away from entering the Ivy League's top 20 all-time.
• Columbia made a season-high 14 threes (14-34) and shot a season-best 41.2 percent.
• Nicole Stephens played a season-high 20 minutes and matched her career-high in made threes (2-4).
• Kitty Henderson matched her season-high of eight rebounds and tied a career-high of four steals.
• Fliss Henderson played a season-high 24 minutes.
• Susie Rafiu pulled down a career-high six rebounds in just over four minutes of action.
• Columbia brought in over 2,000 students from more than 20 schools in New York City for Education Day.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS🎥 @LanceMedow interviews @CUCoachG and @PagePerri postgame after the Lions defeated Providence 77-52.#RoarLionRoar // #EDGE 🦁🏀 pic.twitter.com/9k7An9ShKW
— Columbia Women's Basketball (@CULionsWBB) November 29, 2023
• Villanova (5-1) enters the game winners of four straight. The Wildcats most recently defeated Richmond, 67-57, on Thursday at Finneran Pavilion. Lucy Olsen led the way with 30 points (12-25 FG) while Christina Dalce secured a double-double of 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
• Olsen is a prolific scorer, ranking No. 3 in the NCAA at 24.8 points per game. The 5-9 junior guard connects at 49.1 percent from the field and is also among the top 25 in the NCAA in field goals (56) and minutes (36.79). Dalce leads the Big East in total rebounds (66), rebounds per game (11.0), blocks (10) and blocks per game (1.67).
• This will be the second all-time meeting between the two programs and the first since the series opener in 2003. Villanova won that contest, 70-40, at The Pavilion. The Wildcats went 24-7 that season, advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia women's basketball, follow @CULionsWBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
