Saturday, January 4
Philadelphia, Pa.
2:00 p.m.
Columbia University
at
Penn
Photo by: Sideline Media Productions
Lions Begin Quest for a Three-Peat Saturday at Penn
1/3/2025 3:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
All eight Ivy League schools begin league play on Saturday
NEW YORK – Two-time reigning regular-season champion Columbia (9-4) begins its 38th Ivy League women's basketball season on Saturday when it takes on Penn (9-4) at The Palestra. The game's opening tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.
TICKETS
• Fans making the trip to Philadelphia can click here to purchase tickets ahead of time. Tickets can also be purchased on-site at the venue.
GAME COVERAGE
• Saturday's game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Dan Fritz and Jacob Galli on the call. Fans can track live stats through Stat Broadcast and on the ESPN app. Live updates will also be posted to the Columbia women's basketball team's Twitter account (@CULionsWBB).
OPENING TIPS
• Columbia posted a program-best 13-1 Ivy League record last season. The Lions shared the regular season title with Princeton and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, its first bid in program history.
• Columbia went 9-4 in its non-conference schedule, which included six games against teams currently in the NET top 100 and four games against 2024 NCAA Tournament teams. Ten of Columbia's 13 non-conference opponents advanced to the 2024 postseason (NCAA, WBIT, WNIT). The Lions have gone 9-4 or better in the non-conference each of the last five seasons, combining to go 47-17 (.734) over that time.
• Kitty Henderson earned her league-leading third Ivy League Player of the Week selection of the season on Monday. The senior from Australia had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a steal in Columbia's 73-53 win at Towson on Sunday. The double-double was her second of the season and the seventh of her career.
• Mia Broom is the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week, earning her first such selection on Monday. The rookie from Seattle had eight points, three rebounds, one assist and a game-high four steals at Towson, also going 2-for-4 from three-point range.
• The Lions are a combined +54 on the glass over their last two games. Against Towson, Perri Page (12), Susie Rafiu (9) and Riley Weiss (8) all hit career-highs in rebounding. Columbia had 28 offensive boards, its most in a game since prior to the 2009-10 season. It also marked just the 15th time this season any NCAA Div. I team had 28 offensive rebounds in a game. Columbia ranks No. 24 in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game (15.5).
• Kitty Henderson is expected to make her 100th career start. She will become the fifth player in program history to reach the century mark. Henderson has played in 108 career game, which ranks 10th in program history.
• Columbia's 60 rebounds were its most in a game since going for 64 in a 60-52 win at Brown on Jan. 22, 2022. It also ties for the eighth-most rebounds in a game in program history.
• The Lions had 28 offensive rebounds. According to Her Hoop Stats Research, that is Columbia's most in a game dating back through the 2009-10 season.
• Riley Weiss hit career-highs in field goals made (9) and attempted (23).
• Perri Page (12), Susie Rafiu (9) and Riley Weiss (8) hit career-highs in rebounds. Page tallied a dozen for the fourth time this season.
KITTY DISHES #400
• Kitty Henderson recorded a season-high nine assists in a 77-53 win at Wagner (Dec. 21). In doing so, she became the fourth player in program history to record 400 career assists. Henderson now has 410 assists and is 46 shy of the program record (456), held by Hall of Famer Charlene Schuessler (1986-90).
• Henderson ranks among the top 10 in Columbia women's basketball history in five separate categories. The senior point guard is eighth in career points (1,140), fourth in assists (410), eighth in steals (141), fifth in games started (99) and tied for 10 in games played (108). She is also 13th in career rebounds (590).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN…
• The Lions are in the midst of a 47-day stretch without a home game, which is the longest span between home games in the country. They play six straight games on the road before returning home to play Princeton on Monday, January 20. UC Irvine (46), Texas A&M Commerce (45), Indiana State (45) and Stephen F. Austin (40) are the only other teams that go 40+ days between home games.
RANKING THE LIONS
• Columbia leads the Ivy League in scoring offense (73.9), rebound margin (+6.0) offensive rebounds (15.5) and assists (17.2). The Lions have led the Ivy League in scoring each of the last two seasons.
• Kitty Henderson ranks No. 1 in the Ivy League in total assists (66) and assists per game (5.1). She is top 50 in the NCAA in both categories. The senior from Australia ranks No. 2 among qualified Ivy League players in field goal percentage (.483), and is 37th in the country in minutes per game (35.17).
• Cecelia Collins is second in the Ivy League in assists (54) and assists per game (4.5). She is top 100 in the NCAA in assists per game. Collins is also the Ivy League leader in field goal percentage (.504).
• Riley Weiss leads Columbia and ranks No. 3 in the Ivies in scoring (17.1). Kitty Henderson (15.6) is sixth.
• Weiss ranks No. 9 nationally in 3-point attempts (111) and No. 21 nationally in 3-point makes (38). She is also 18th in the country in 3-pointers made per game (2.92). All of those marks lead the Ivy League. Her 34.2 percent 3-point percentage is third in the Ivy League.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
• Penn (9-4) returns home after a 1-1 trip to Arizona, where it fell in a close contest, 73-67, at Arizona State and defeated Benedictine Mesa of the NAIA, 86-75.
• The Quakers are led offensively by Stina Almqvist, who averages 19.1 points per game to rank second in the Ivy League. She also averages 8.0 rebounds, No. 4 in the Ivies, just behind Katie Collins' team-high average of 8.2. Mataya Gayle also averages double figures scoring (12.1) along with a team-high 54 assists and 4.2 assists per game, No. 3 in the Ivy League.
• The all-time series favors Penn, 52-23, but Columbia has dominated in recent years. The Lions are 5-1 in their last six against the Quakers, including a 30-point victory, 85-55, last January at The Palestra. The 30-point win was Columbia's largest in series history. Abbey Hsu scored 28 and Cecelia Collins had 22.
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.
TICKETS
• Fans making the trip to Philadelphia can click here to purchase tickets ahead of time. Tickets can also be purchased on-site at the venue.
GAME COVERAGE
• Saturday's game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Dan Fritz and Jacob Galli on the call. Fans can track live stats through Stat Broadcast and on the ESPN app. Live updates will also be posted to the Columbia women's basketball team's Twitter account (@CULionsWBB).
OPENING TIPS
• Columbia posted a program-best 13-1 Ivy League record last season. The Lions shared the regular season title with Princeton and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, its first bid in program history.
• Columbia went 9-4 in its non-conference schedule, which included six games against teams currently in the NET top 100 and four games against 2024 NCAA Tournament teams. Ten of Columbia's 13 non-conference opponents advanced to the 2024 postseason (NCAA, WBIT, WNIT). The Lions have gone 9-4 or better in the non-conference each of the last five seasons, combining to go 47-17 (.734) over that time.
• Kitty Henderson earned her league-leading third Ivy League Player of the Week selection of the season on Monday. The senior from Australia had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a steal in Columbia's 73-53 win at Towson on Sunday. The double-double was her second of the season and the seventh of her career.
• Mia Broom is the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week, earning her first such selection on Monday. The rookie from Seattle had eight points, three rebounds, one assist and a game-high four steals at Towson, also going 2-for-4 from three-point range.
• The Lions are a combined +54 on the glass over their last two games. Against Towson, Perri Page (12), Susie Rafiu (9) and Riley Weiss (8) all hit career-highs in rebounding. Columbia had 28 offensive boards, its most in a game since prior to the 2009-10 season. It also marked just the 15th time this season any NCAA Div. I team had 28 offensive rebounds in a game. Columbia ranks No. 24 in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game (15.5).
• Kitty Henderson is expected to make her 100th career start. She will become the fifth player in program history to reach the century mark. Henderson has played in 108 career game, which ranks 10th in program history.
TOWSON POSTGAME NOTES (Dec. 29)And that's a wrap on 2024! 🦁🩵#RoarLionRoar // #OnlyHere // #EDGE pic.twitter.com/8ZeVXnCoQ7
— Columbia Women's Basketball (@CULionsWBB) December 31, 2024
• Columbia's 60 rebounds were its most in a game since going for 64 in a 60-52 win at Brown on Jan. 22, 2022. It also ties for the eighth-most rebounds in a game in program history.
• The Lions had 28 offensive rebounds. According to Her Hoop Stats Research, that is Columbia's most in a game dating back through the 2009-10 season.
• Riley Weiss hit career-highs in field goals made (9) and attempted (23).
• Perri Page (12), Susie Rafiu (9) and Riley Weiss (8) hit career-highs in rebounds. Page tallied a dozen for the fourth time this season.
KITTY DISHES #400
• Kitty Henderson recorded a season-high nine assists in a 77-53 win at Wagner (Dec. 21). In doing so, she became the fourth player in program history to record 400 career assists. Henderson now has 410 assists and is 46 shy of the program record (456), held by Hall of Famer Charlene Schuessler (1986-90).
• Henderson ranks among the top 10 in Columbia women's basketball history in five separate categories. The senior point guard is eighth in career points (1,140), fourth in assists (410), eighth in steals (141), fifth in games started (99) and tied for 10 in games played (108). She is also 13th in career rebounds (590).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN…
• The Lions are in the midst of a 47-day stretch without a home game, which is the longest span between home games in the country. They play six straight games on the road before returning home to play Princeton on Monday, January 20. UC Irvine (46), Texas A&M Commerce (45), Indiana State (45) and Stephen F. Austin (40) are the only other teams that go 40+ days between home games.
RANKING THE LIONS
• Columbia leads the Ivy League in scoring offense (73.9), rebound margin (+6.0) offensive rebounds (15.5) and assists (17.2). The Lions have led the Ivy League in scoring each of the last two seasons.
• Kitty Henderson ranks No. 1 in the Ivy League in total assists (66) and assists per game (5.1). She is top 50 in the NCAA in both categories. The senior from Australia ranks No. 2 among qualified Ivy League players in field goal percentage (.483), and is 37th in the country in minutes per game (35.17).
• Cecelia Collins is second in the Ivy League in assists (54) and assists per game (4.5). She is top 100 in the NCAA in assists per game. Collins is also the Ivy League leader in field goal percentage (.504).
• Riley Weiss leads Columbia and ranks No. 3 in the Ivies in scoring (17.1). Kitty Henderson (15.6) is sixth.
• Weiss ranks No. 9 nationally in 3-point attempts (111) and No. 21 nationally in 3-point makes (38). She is also 18th in the country in 3-pointers made per game (2.92). All of those marks lead the Ivy League. Her 34.2 percent 3-point percentage is third in the Ivy League.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
• Penn (9-4) returns home after a 1-1 trip to Arizona, where it fell in a close contest, 73-67, at Arizona State and defeated Benedictine Mesa of the NAIA, 86-75.
• The Quakers are led offensively by Stina Almqvist, who averages 19.1 points per game to rank second in the Ivy League. She also averages 8.0 rebounds, No. 4 in the Ivies, just behind Katie Collins' team-high average of 8.2. Mataya Gayle also averages double figures scoring (12.1) along with a team-high 54 assists and 4.2 assists per game, No. 3 in the Ivy League.
• The all-time series favors Penn, 52-23, but Columbia has dominated in recent years. The Lions are 5-1 in their last six against the Quakers, including a 30-point victory, 85-55, last January at The Palestra. The 30-point win was Columbia's largest in series history. Abbey Hsu scored 28 and Cecelia Collins had 22.
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.
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