Saturday, February 28
Columbia
6
vs
3
Georgetown University
Columbia Women’s Squash Tops Georgetown to Advance to Kurtz Cup Finals
2/28/2026 7:18:00 PM | Women's Squash
Lions Earn Six Victories
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Columbia advanced to the Kurtz Cup championship with a convincing 6–3 victory.
Senior captain Nourin Khalifa delivered a statement performance at No. 1, defeating Sanah Syed in four games, 11-4, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10. After splitting the opening two frames, Khalifa maintained the Lions' early momentum.
At No. 4, junior Kaavya Bansal produced one of the afternoon's defining moments, rallying for a five-game victory over Ella Erickson, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, in a 46-minute battle.
Columbia's depth proved decisive in the middle and lower third. Junior Eugenia Li earned a straight-game win at No. 6 (11-7, 11-5, 12-10), while freshman Charlie McCrone followed with a composed 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 sweep at No. 7.
Freshman Isha Gupta outlasted Katie Hennessy in four games at No. 8 (12-10, 7-11, 11-4, 15-13), closing out a dramatic fourth game to clinch a crucial point.
Junior Advita Sharma sealed the sixth point at No. 9 with an 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 victory.
Columbia 6, Georgetown 3
1S – Nourin Khalifa (CU) def. Sanah Syed (GU), 11-4, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10
2S – Cecilia Curran (GU) def. Yeheni Kuruppu (CU), 11-5, 11-6, 11-4
3S – Ella Schoonmaker (GU) def. Eva Salzman (CU), 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5
4S – Kaavya Bansal (CU) def. Ella Erickson (GU), 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9
5S – Mary Kacergis (GU) def. Amal Izhar (CU), 11-1, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6
6S – Eugenia Li (CU) def. Aarohi Kuthari (GU), 11-7, 11-5, 12-10
7S – Charlie McCrone (CU) def. Lindsay Lee (GU), 11-9, 11-8, 12-10
8S – Isha Gupta (CU) def. Katie Hennessy (GU), 12-10, 7-11, 11-4, 15-13
9S – Advita Sharma (CU) def. Virginia Wood (GU), 11-9, 11-8, 11-4
UP NEXT
Columbia advances to the Kurtz Cup final, facing Middlebury College with the first match scheduled at 9 a.m.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia squash, follow @CULionsSquash on X and Instagram, like Columbia Squash on Facebook, or visit GoColumbiaLions.com.
Senior captain Nourin Khalifa delivered a statement performance at No. 1, defeating Sanah Syed in four games, 11-4, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10. After splitting the opening two frames, Khalifa maintained the Lions' early momentum.
At No. 4, junior Kaavya Bansal produced one of the afternoon's defining moments, rallying for a five-game victory over Ella Erickson, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, in a 46-minute battle.
Columbia's depth proved decisive in the middle and lower third. Junior Eugenia Li earned a straight-game win at No. 6 (11-7, 11-5, 12-10), while freshman Charlie McCrone followed with a composed 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 sweep at No. 7.
Freshman Isha Gupta outlasted Katie Hennessy in four games at No. 8 (12-10, 7-11, 11-4, 15-13), closing out a dramatic fourth game to clinch a crucial point.
Junior Advita Sharma sealed the sixth point at No. 9 with an 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 victory.
Columbia 6, Georgetown 3
1S – Nourin Khalifa (CU) def. Sanah Syed (GU), 11-4, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10
2S – Cecilia Curran (GU) def. Yeheni Kuruppu (CU), 11-5, 11-6, 11-4
3S – Ella Schoonmaker (GU) def. Eva Salzman (CU), 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5
4S – Kaavya Bansal (CU) def. Ella Erickson (GU), 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9
5S – Mary Kacergis (GU) def. Amal Izhar (CU), 11-1, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6
6S – Eugenia Li (CU) def. Aarohi Kuthari (GU), 11-7, 11-5, 12-10
7S – Charlie McCrone (CU) def. Lindsay Lee (GU), 11-9, 11-8, 12-10
8S – Isha Gupta (CU) def. Katie Hennessy (GU), 12-10, 7-11, 11-4, 15-13
9S – Advita Sharma (CU) def. Virginia Wood (GU), 11-9, 11-8, 11-4
UP NEXT
Columbia advances to the Kurtz Cup final, facing Middlebury College with the first match scheduled at 9 a.m.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia squash, follow @CULionsSquash on X and Instagram, like Columbia Squash on Facebook, or visit GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Squash
/ Women's Squash
/ Women's Squash
/ Women's Squash
/ Women's Squash
/ Women's Squash
/ Women's Squash
/ Women's Squash
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