PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Senior
Abbey Hsu posted a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Columbia women's basketball team to a road victory over Brown, 77-62, Friday evening at the Pizzitola Sports Center.
The win makes eight straight and 18 of 19 for Columbia (20-5, 11-1 Ivy). The Lions also locked up their third straight 20-win season after never reaching the win plateau once in its first 35 seasons as an NCAA Division I program.
After not even getting a shot off in the first quarter, Hsu turned it on with a 12-point second quarter before netting 16 more in the second half. She was a blistering 10-of-14 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from deep, to polish off her seventh career double-double, five of which have come this season.
"It took a lot to learn that you don't have to force it – the game can come to you," said Hsu, who was named the
NCAA.com Player of the Week on Tuesday. "Especially when you're tightly defended like that, you can get your teammates open. That's something I've learned a lot during this season."
After opening the game 1-for-9 from the field and hitting at just 15.0 percent after seven minutes, Hsu and the Lions found their stride. They kept Brown (14-11, 5-7 Ivy) at bay thanks to dominating the glass, ending the evening plus 20 (50-30), including 25-8 on the offensive end.
"Tonight wasn't the prettiest offensive game but I'm proud of our team to string together the stops that we needed," head coach
Megan Griffith said. "I thought rebounding was huge and that's just a toughness thing. That's a mindset."
Cecelia Collins posted her first career double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and a game-high six assists. She had a game-high eight offensive rebounds, helping Columbia shut out the Bears, 15-0, in second-chance points.
Hsu scored Columbia's first seven points of the second quarter as part of a 14-2 run that gave the Lions their first double-digit lead, 22-12. Brown called for time and answered with back-to-back threes from Kyla Jones. The senior proved to be a problem all night and would wind up with a game-high 30 points.
The Lions extended their lead back to double figures thanks to a 7-0 run to end the first half. However, right back came the Bears with a 9-0 run to start the second half to pull within a single point. Collins helped the Lions settle in and maintain the lead.
A slim four-point lead heading to the fourth turned into a one-point affair, once again, on a Grace Arnolie triple. Again, Columbia never gave up its lead and this time went on a 10-0 run to create separation. Hsu had seven of those points in a span of less than two minutes.
"She's by far the most enjoyable person to coach and work with," added Griffith on Hsu and her performance "I can't say enough good things about her. She's a great leader. I think the poise and maturity she played with tonight is just a great sign of who she is as a person."
Nicole Stephens drained a corner three to make it a 14-point game and Brown never cut the margin under 10 points.
The Lions complete the weekend back-to-back on Saturday at Yale (8-17, 5-7 Ivy). The opening tip from Lee Amphitheater in New Haven, Connecticut is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
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