Megan Griffith inks five-year extension with Columbia women’s basketball

Columbia women’s basketball has posted a 99-77 record (41-43 Ivy League) in six seasons under coach Megan Griffith, claiming its first Ivy League championship in program history in 2022-23. (Photo by Erica Denhoff)

After a historic season for Columbia women’s basketball in which the Lions earned their first ever Ivy League regular season championship and WNIT Final appearance, coach Megan Griffith has signed a five-year extension that will keep her in Morningside Heights through the 2027-28 season.

Griffith, a King of Prussia, Pa. native, played point guard for Columbia from 2003 to 2007 and captained the team for her last three years.  Over that time, she twice earned All-Ivy and Academic All-Ivy accolades.  Following three years of professional basketball in Europe, she joined Courtney Banghart’s staff at Princeton, where she was director of basketball operations, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

When Columbia athletic director Peter Pilling tabbed the then-30-year-old to be the team’s head coach in March 2016, the Lions had just finished a five-year period in which they went 34-107 (.241) overall and 10-60 (.142) in the Ivy League.

“This is my home and I can’t thank Peter Pilling enough for taking a chance on me seven years ago. The buy-in and investment from our administration are unmatched in the history of our program and the Ivy League in general,” the coach told Columbia Athletics. “We’ve created something special for our community, our campus, our alumni and our fans, and I know we will continue to build on that.”

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Columbia women bow out in WNIT Elite Eight loss to Seton Hall, 78-75, ending best season in program history

Columbia sophomore guard Abbey Hsu got off to a hot start in the WNIT Elite Eight after a cold shooting performance in the Sweet 16, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 78-75 loss to Seton Hall Monday night. (photo by Erica Denhoff)

The best season in Columbia women’s basketball history is over.

Columbia came up on the low end of a see-saw showdown at Levien Gym Monday night, bowing out to Seton Hall, 78-75, in the Elite Eight round of the WNIT.

The Lions’ appearance in the WNIT national quarterfinals came after wins in each of the tournament’s first three rounds – the program’s first postseason wins since it joined Division I in 1986.

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Columbia women to host Boston College in WNIT Sweet 16

Columbia fans will get another chance to see their team led by sophomore guard Abbey Hsu (20) play at Levien Gym Thursday night when the Lions take on Boston College in the WNIT Sweet 16. (photo by Erica Denhoff)

After a road triumph at Old Dominion in the second round of the WNIT, Columbia is coming home.

The Lions will host Boston College in the Sweet 16 round of the WNIT Thursday at 7 p.m.

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Columbia Athletics: Lions hoops great and Rhodes Scholar Heyward Dotson dies at 71

Heyward Dotson speaking to Columbia Athletics in 2018, when he was inducted into the Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame. (Columbia Athletics)

Columbia men’s basketball great and Rhodes Scholar Heyward Dotson died Friday at 71, Columbia Athletics announced Sunday.

The Columbia Athletics Hall of Famer was a standout on the Lions’ 1968 Ivy League championship team, still the last squad to win an Ivy title for the program.

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