The Cornell women’s basketball team opened Ivy League play with a 67-60 road victory over Columbia on Saturday afternoon, snapping multiple streaks in the process. The win ended a five-game skid, marked Cornell’s first Ivy League victory of the season and gave the Big Red its first win over the Lions in eight meetings and first road win at Columbia since 2018. Cornell improved to 5-8 overall and 1-0 in league play.
Senior Emily Pape led the Big Red with 19 points, knocking down four 3-pointers. Junior Rachel Kaus added 15 points, while Clarke Jackson and Audrey Chen scored 12 apiece. Jackson also posted a team-high seven rebounds and seven assists, as Cornell finished with 20 assists on 23 made field goals. The Big Red shot 45.1 percent from the floor and 52.6 percent from beyond the arc, while getting 18 points from the bench and forcing key turnovers.
Columbia was led by Perri Page’s game-high 24 points. Fliss Henderson recorded a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds, and Marija Avlijas added 13 points for the Lions, who fell to 9-5 overall and 0-1 in Ivy play.
Cornell carried a 28-26 lead into halftime and used a strong third quarter to take control. The Big Red outscored Columbia 18-13 in the period to build a seven-point advantage entering the fourth. Cornell pushed its lead to as many as 12 in the final quarter and closed out the win at the free throw line.
Cornell continues Ivy League play on Saturday, January 10, when it travels to Dartmouth for a 1 p.m. tipoff.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.