Basketball wins big in opener, falls to Oakland in OT

The Columbia women’s basketball team began its season with a victory over Sacred Heart, but the Lions could not maintain their momentum against Oakland. Columbia (1-1) followed a 24-point win on Friday with a three-point loss on Sunday.

Columbia used a balanced offense to build a comfortable lead against Sacred Heart (0-1). On the first play of the game, junior guard Kathleen Barry scored a layup. Barry also made a three-pointer and a jumper on consecutive possessions before three minutes had elapsed. At halftime, the Lions held a 13-point advantage over the Pioneers.

Columbia scored the first basket of the second half, and the Lions extended their lead to 21 points after just over three minutes of action. The Pioneers cut their deficit to 15 points midway through the period, but would not get any closer, as Columbia finished with a 79-55 victory.

Barry and junior forward Judie Lomax each finished with a team-high 14 points for Columbia, while Lomax also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. Sophomore forward Callan Taylor led all scorers with 21 points for Sacred Heart.

After overpowering the Pioneers, Columbia did not control its matchup with Oakland (3-1). The first half consisted of back-and-forth play, as both teams had trouble taking care of the ball. Oakland took a five-point lead with just under 13 minutes left in the period, but Columbia tied the game at 14 five minutes later. The score was 26-23 in favor of the Golden Grizzlies at halftime.

Lomax missed her first layup attempt of the second half, and Columbia turned over the ball on its next two possessions due to traveling. Oakland went on an 11-2 run over the first three minutes to extend its lead to 12 points.

Columbia chipped away at the Golden Grizzlies’ advantage. A Barry layup cut Oakland’s lead to eight points with 13 minutes to play, while a Lomax layup with seven minutes left put Columbia within two. Oakland still led until less than five minutes remained in regulation, when junior center Lauren Dwyer put the Lions ahead with a three-pointer.

“I thought that gave us all the momentum,” Columbia head coach Paul Nixon said. “But you give them [Oakland] credit. They came back down the floor, they attacked the basket, they got some free throws, and they’re a veteran team. They’re not winning 20-plus games a year because they don’t know how to respond to those situations.”

Oakland knotted the score at 52-52 with just under two minutes to play, and at 53-53 with nine seconds remaining. Senior point guard Sara Yee had a chance to give Columbia the win in regulation, but her shot did not fall. Although Yee opened the overtime period with a three-pointer, Oakland came back to take a 61-58 lead.

Columbia appeared to have lost when Yee missed a game-tying trey in the final second, but the referees called a double-dribble against Oakland. Yee then took a three-pointer from the baseline, but her attempt bounced off the rim. In a game that neither team dominated—Columbia and Oakland both committed over 20 turnovers—the Golden Grizzlies escaped with the victory.

Lomax finished with game-highs of 19 points and 18 rebounds for the Lions. Three players scored 12 points apiece for Oakland, while senior guard Riikka Terava led the Golden Grizzlies with 10 boards. Senior guard Danielle Browne did not play for Columbia due to an injury sustained toward the end of the Lions’ game against Sacred Heart.

Columbia continues nonconference play on Nov. 18 at Long Island.