The time-honored expression that it is difficult to beat a team three times in a season was debunked by Columbia Friday night in the second Ivy League Tournament semifinal at Lavietes Pavilion.
The high-flying Lions completed the season sweep with a 67-38 wire-to-wire win.
“I hope you all enjoyed watching Columbia play today,” Columbia coach Megan Griffith said to open the Lions’ postgame press conference. “We’re not done.”
“We didn’t feel that we played beautiful Bulldog basketball,” Yale coach Allison Guth after congratulating her three seniors in the postgame press conference.
Columbia raced out to a 10-0 lead and never looked back. The Lions’ advantage grew to 16-2 and 30-9 at 6:55 of the first stanza.
“[W]e just want[ed] to make sure we threw the first punch,” Columbia sophomore guard Abbey Hsu said. “And I’m very proud of my team because I felt like we did.”
Columbia led 39-15 at the half.
Yale was led in scoring by Camilla Emsbo with nine points. Emsbo also collected a team-high 15 rebounds.
“I think it’s a stepping stone for us but definitely not something to be satisfied with at all,” Emsbo said.
Jaida Patrick led Columbia with 23 points on 11-for-13 shooting. Abbey Hsu pitched in 18 points.
Columbia shot 27-for-59 (45.8%) from the field while Yale sat at 15-for-60 (25%) and just 2-for-19 (10.5%) from three.
Yale finished the season at 16-11. Columbia is now 22-5 and will play Princeton at 5 p.m. Saturday for the Ivy League championship and automatic NCAA bid.