NEW YORK, NY (SMI-GLOBAL-WOMEN-UNIVERSITY-JAN 20-21, 2025)-Cecilia Collins and Susie Rafiu combined for 21-points in the attack as the Columbia women's basketball team overcome Princeton 58-50, to remain undefeated 4-0, and take first place in Ivy League standings on Martin Luther King Day at Levien Gym, Columbia University.

The Lions and the Tigers who shared the Ivy League regular season crown, and earned a spot in the NCAA tournament in 2024, collided in a showdown match with a perfect record with Columbia finishing victorious and outscoring Princeton 38-20, in the final two quarters to remain undefeated and take first place in the Ivy League Standings.

The Tigers went in front 7-0, in a span of 2' with Ashley Chea hitting a triple while Parker Hill scoring with a layup and Skye Belker added two points with a jumper from inside the paint at 08:01 mark.

The Lions answered back immediately with three consecutive layups from Cecilia Collins, Kitty Henderson  and Susie Rafiu on fastbreak/inside the paint  to cut the deficit by one, 7-6, at 04:58 mark.

Both teams kept the pressure and battled back & forth the remaining first quarter.Princeton's forward Parker Hill scored with layup and Tabitha Amanze added 4-points with 2-consecutive layups while Columbia's Cecelia Collins answered back with a triple and Kitty Henderson scored with a layup for Princeton leading 13-11, at the end of the first frame.

In the second quarter, Princeton remained solid on the floor and increased its lead by 10, with a 8-4, and 9-5, separate runs to closed-out the half leading 30-20, against Columbia. 

After both teams traded a basket each, The Lions went in 10-2, run during a span of 4' to cut the deficit by 2, with the Tigers leading 34-32, with 04:51 left in the third frame. Susie Rafiu led the run with a Triple and layup for 5-points while Kitty Henderson added a basket with a layup inside the paint.

Columbia kept the pressure and went in another 5-2, run to overcome the score for the first time in the game in a span of 3' and went in front 37-36, with 01:21 left in the third quarter.Cecilia Collins scored from outside the arc for 3-points while Riley Weiss converted two FTs in the run.

Perri Page and Kitty Henderson bucked three consecutive free throws from the lane to closed-out the third quarter 40-36, in favor of Columbia.

In the final quarter, the Lions kept its composure and increased its lead 9, with a 7-2, run  in span of 3' with 06:57 left in the game.Riley Weiss hit her second triple of the game while Susie Rafiu and Cecilia Collins scored couple layups from inside the paint with Columbia leading 47-38, over Princeton.

The Tigers tried to keep the pace trading baskets back & forth with the Lions the remaining 5' minutes but the lead stayed within 10-point the rest of the way securing the victory of 58-50, for Columbia over Princeton.

The Lions were led by Cecilia Collins with 18-points and 3-triples out of five and 7-11, from the floor. Susie Rafiu scored 13-points, 6-10 from the floor and 4-steals and Riley Weiss added 8-points including 2-triples.  




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