Could there really be a season-defining game as early as Jan. 7?
It’s not only possible, it’s probable.
It’s Princeton-Columbia at Levien Gym Friday at 7 p.m.
That very game could be repeated on March 12 for a chance to go to the NCAA Tournament or WNIT.
It has two integral ingredients:
- Two coaches in Carla Berube and Megan Griffith who have an eye for talent and a knack for propitious in-game adjustments.
- Two star players with (essentially) the same first names in Princeton’s Abby Meyers and Columbia’s Abbey Hsu.
Hsu and Meyers trade three-pointers and defensive ferocity with the best of them. Meyers has hit 26 triples already this season. Hsu, meanwhile, has drained a staggering 47 threes – nearly four a game.
Friday’s matchup could be chapter one of a trilogy. Hopefully the powers that be at Columbia will see fit to permit a judicious number of fully masked spectators into Levien. It would be a treat for them.
Sorry but Columbia is not having spectators at their games through the 18th. Below is what appeared in theColumbia spectator.
In its latest response to rising COVID-19 cases in New York City and within the Columbia community, Columbia Athletics announced a temporary ban on spectator attendance at home sporting events through Jan. 18, the date spring semester classes begin. Effective immediately, athletics events will proceed as scheduled, but fans will be unable to cheer on the Lions from their home stands.
“This decision was made after consulting with the University’s COVID-19 task force, medical professionals, and in accordance with campus leadership,” Athletic Director Peter Pilling said. “The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, fans, Columbia University campus, and greater New York City community is our top priority.”
Sunday’s game against Yale proved that Columbia is no paper lion. And one of the most important lessons from that game was that Columbia can win even when Abbey Hsu is not dominant (her eight points were 10 short of her average). Guard Carly Rivera was clutch, as usual, and Kaitlyn Davis had 11 points and nine rebounds while going up against a strong Yale front court (though Camilla Emsbo, like Hsu, had something less than her usual game). Is Columbia good enough to beat Princeton? Maybe. Good enough to give Princeton a harder time than Harvard? Definitely.
Don’t forget Mikayla Markham who was a key guard in Columbia’s 2019-2020 winning season. She game in to the Yale game and almost single handedly put them in the lead scoring 7 while only playing 12 minutes. Both Carly Rivera and her are extremely solid as guards for Columbia.