Richmond Holds Off Women’s Basketball, 77-67

Saturday, November 15

New York, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

Columbia University

2-1,0-0Ivy League

Richmond

3-1,0-0Atlantic 10

Richmond

Columbia

Photo by: Joshua Wang, New York

11/15/2025 11:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Spiders shoot 64 percent in the second half to spoil home opener

NEW YORK – The Columbia women's basketball team fell to Richmond in its home opener, 77-67, Saturday night from Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium. Columbia (2-1) suffered its first loss of the season.

The Lions led 13-10 after a fast-paced but low-scoring first quarter. However, Richmond (3-1) recovered from a period in which it shot just 3-for-19 (.158), by going 22-for-35 (.629) the rest of the way. The Spiders led by seven at the half, took an 11-point lead into the third quarter and led by double figures most of the fourth.

"It's a very talented team. I think Maggie Doogan is one of the best players in the country," Columbia head coach Megan Griffith said. "It was great to get to match up against that this early in the season. I just thought they outplayed us as a team and I thought we had a lot of selfish plays that we made in this game. Unfortunately, that's just not going to win you a lot of games against good opponents."

Reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Maggie Doogan and fellow Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List selection Rachel Ullstrom led the way with 16 points apiece. Doogan added nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Alicia Newell also scored 16 points to go with four steals, while Ally Sweeney had 15 points and nine assists.

The Lions saw four players score double figures. Junior Riley Weiss matched the game-high of 16 points to go with six rebounds, a career-high five steals, two assists and a block. Unfortunately, her 16 points came on a tough 7-of-25 shooting night, including 1-for-10 from beyond the arc. Senior co-captain Susie Rafiu recorded a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds. Fellow senior co-captain Perri Page scored 15 points and snagged six rebounds. Sophomore Mia Broom was the fourth Lion in double figures with a career-high 14 points.

Richmond simply just outshot Columbia, going 12-for-26 (.462) from the 3-point line while the Lions hit just 5-of-24 (.208). The Spiders were also a perfect 15-for-15 at the charity stripe to Columbia's 8-of-15 (.533).

Despite the late deficit, Weiss scored on an old-fashioned three-point play to bring the Lions within eight points with 50 seconds remaining. The two teams then traded free throws, but Columbia could not shrink the margin any further. Richmond got back to the line and gave itself enough cushion to pull away.

Columbia could not fully take advantage of Richmond's slow offensive start, only leading 13-10 at the end of the first quarter. The Spiders then took their first lead early in the second quarter and used a 7-0 run to go up 24-18. They remained in front the rest of the half, taking a 32-25 lead into the break.

Richmond found its stride in the second half. The Lions cut it to five, 40-35, on a second-chance bucket by Page at the 5:38 mark of the third quarter. That was as close as it ever got. Richmond outrebounded Columbia 11-3 in the period and increased the lead to double digits heading to the fourth. The visitors would lead by as many as 16.

Prior to the start of the contest, the Lions raised their 2025 Ivy League Championship banner and honored last year's first NCAA Tournament win. Columbia has won the league's regular-season title three years in a row, taking the outright title in 2024-25.

The Lions will look to bounce back at home against Saint Joseph's on Thursday. Tip-off from Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium is scheduled for 11 a.m., with more than 2,000 New York City elementary school students expected to be in attendance for Education Day.

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