NEW YORK – Despite a strong second-half performance that saw 54.2 percent (13-of-24) shooting from the floor, the Columbia women's basketball team's (11-7, 0-4 Ivy) hard-fought battle fell just shy as the Harvard Crimson (8-9, 3-1 Ivy) were able to take a 69-66 win over the Lions on Saturday night.
The tough loss came in front of a home crowd of 458, including a group of Columbia women's basketball alumnae that came back to support their Alma Mater on the annual Alumnae Weekend. After playing in an alumnae game earlier in the morning, the former Columbia stars came out to support the current Lions and were honored at halftime of the game.
It was all Harvard in the opening minutes of the game as the Crimson wasted no time attacking out of the gate, opening the game on an 8-0 run to force a Columbia timeout only 59 seconds after the tip. Fortunately that timeout paid off for the Lions as Emily Surloff came out of the huddle and drained a three from the near-side corner to put Columbia on the board, trailing 8-3.
Still down 18-7 with 2:54 to play in the first, the aggressive play of Sara Mead and Camille Zimmerman got the Columbia offense going as they rallied together to end the first quarter on a 5-0 run and pull to within five.
The momentum continued for the Lions coming out of the break as they battled back to tie things up and with the help of an Alexa Giuliano three from the top of the key, Columbia was able to grab its first lead of the game, 30-27, with 3:23 left in the half.
Unfortunately the tide shifted as the Crimson started a rally of their own, hitting six-straight from the floor to spark an 8-0 run to help take a 35-32 advantage into the locker rooms at the half.
Trailing 44-36 with 7:29 to go in the third, the Lions got their offense together once again behind Zimmerman as she helped spark an 8-0 run to tie the game back up at 44-44.
While the Lions were able to keep the game close all the way through the third quarter, Harvard would not give up its lead as the Crimson took a 54-50 lead into the final 10 minutes of action.
Knowing all too well what it feels like to be in a tight game heading into the fourth quarter, the Lions showed their Grit as they came up with three-straight defensive stops to spark an 8-0 run and force a Harvard timeout with Columbia on top, 58-54, and 8:01 remaining.
Unfortunately that timeout paid off for the Crimson as they came out of the huddle with six unanswered points, forcing a Columbia timeout with the game tied at 60-60 and 5:36 to go.
Still tied at 64-64, Harvard’s Madeline Raster was able to drain a three, but a layup through traffic by Josie Little brought the game back to within a point heading into the final minute of play.
Despite a big steal by Emily Surloff on the following possession, the Lions were unable to cash in on their final three opportunities as the Crimson were able to hang on, hitting two of their final four free throws to seal a 69-66 victory.
Leading the way for the Lions was Camille Zimmerman who picked up 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe while Sara Mead showed why she is a senior, picking up seven points and seven rebounds while adding three assists, three steals and a block on the night. Harvard’s AnnMarie Healy lead the game after posting up 27 points and six rebounds, shooting 13-of-14 from the floor in 36 minutes of action.
Columbia finished the game shooting 46.4 percent (26-of-56) from the field and were solid at the free-throw line as they have been all year, hitting 11-of-12 from the stripe.
The Lions will return to action next weekend as they welcome Yale (Feb. 5) and Brown (Feb. 6) to Levien Gymnasium. Saturday’s matchup with Brown will be part of Columbia’s annual “Play4Kay” game as the Lions wear pink to help raise awareness for the fight against women’s cancer.
