STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Like the first stop in the Columbia women’s 2022-23 redemption tour, last night’s appearance in eastern Long Island was a resounding success for the Lions.
Senior forward Kaitlyn Davis’ 19 points (including this nifty behind-the-back drive in the third quarter), nine rebounds and three steals led a balanced offensive and defensive attack from the starting five as the Lions came away with an 84-68 victory over the Stony Brook at Island Federal Arena on Wednesday night.
The win avenges a 91-82 defeat at the hands of Seawolves last November at Levien Gymnasium.
“This was a big game for us, a revenge game from last year,” Davis told Ivy Hoops Online. “(We’re) Just trying to do our job, show that this year we’re a different team, a better team.”
Senior Jaida Patrick jumped out of the gate quickly, scoring 13 of the team’s first 26 points to pace Columbia (8-2) to a 12-point lead with 2:30 left in the opening quarter. While it looked like it might be a third straight blowout win for the visitors, Stony Brook (4-5) finished the frame on a 7-1 run to make it 27-22 after 10 minutes.
The second quarter was very similar to the first, with the Lions grabbing a 40-27 advantage after senior forward Hannah Pratt sank a three at the 6:30 mark, and the Seawolves rebounding with 14 of the next 23 points to only be down eight, 49-41, at halftime.
As usual for the evening, Columbia started fast, scoring the first eight points to take a 57-41 lead with 7:15 left in the third.
But again, Stony Brook battled back.
Gigi Gonzalez, who finished the evening with a game-high 28 points and scored 21 in last year’s win, contributed an old-fashioned three-point play to cut the deficit to seven, 61-54, with 3:23 on the clock.
Unlike the first two frames, however, the Lions would not let the Seawolves get the last word. Pratt sank a jumper in the paint and first-year guard Perri Page made a fastbreak layup off a Patrick steal and assist to give Columbia an 11-point cushion, 65-54, going into the final quarter.
With Gonzalez not at full strength following a hard fall late in the third quarter, the Lions pounced on the Seawolves and extended their lead to a game-high 17 points by the time both benches cleared with a minute left in the contest.
In addition to Davis’ 19 points, Patrick added a team-high 21 points and junior guard Abbey Hsu scored 13, while Pratt and sophomore guard Kitty Henderson both added 10. Hsu and Pratt also grabbed six rebounds each, and Henderson dished a game-high six assists.
While the Seawolves had their moments, especially making 44% (7-for-16) of their attempts from deep and 88% (15-for-17) from the free-throw line, there wasn’t a time where the result seemed in doubt. That speaks to the growing confidence of the program and their starting lineup.
“We trust in each other,” Davis said when asked about the comfort level among the team’s core. “It’s fun to play when we have five people who know what the other’s going to do and that can pick each other up.”
Columbia, which held their hosts to only 27 points in the second half, dominated the inside all evening long, shooting 58% (26-for-45) from two and securing a +15/+24% advantage in rebounding, as well as scoring 26 more points in the paint and 16 more second-chance points.
“Defensively, we weren’t as locked in in the first half,” coach Megan Griffith explained to IHO. “I didn’t think we adjusted that well until the start of the third quarter.”
The Lions’ outside shooting was not as successful as their two-pointers. The team hitting only 30% (7-for-23), but that included a 1-for-7 effort in the final period. While the 58% (11-for-19) result at the free throw line was a disappointment, it didn’t appear to bother the team’s leader.
“I’m not worried about it (free throw shooting),” Griffith said. “We’ve got to get there (the free throw line) more than the other team. As long as we do that, we win every game.”
After dispatching Seton Hall and Stony Brook, Columbia now heads up to Amherst to take on a UMass team that beat the Lions in New York last year, made the NCAA Tournament and is the favorite in the A-10 Conference.
If another shot at revenge isn’t enough motivation, facing a team with a NET ranking of No. 56 will give the Lions, who are at No. 36, a chance to get another resume building win as they look to head to their first-ever appearance in March Madness.
“It’s almost (like) playing a team that’s just like ourselves,” Griffith said. “I’m excited because it’s like an NCAA Tournament game, an eight [seed and] nine [seed] playing each other.”
“We’re going to play Columbia basketball,” Davis said. “No matter who the opponent is, we’re ready.”