Columbia University women’s basketball team has established itself as one of the most successful programs among New York City’s Division I ballers. They have received back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids, making the big dance in 2024 and last season. They are striving for a trifecta in the new campaign.
In the first few minutes of Saturday’s faceoff against Wagner College of Staten Island at Levien Gymnasium on the campus of Columbia in the Morningside Heights section of Manhattan, it shaped up as a tough New York battle. Wagner stayed close for much of the first quarter and was down just 22-17 at the end of the period. But by halftime, Columbia was in control, holding a 46-24 lead, which they continued to grow in the second half. The game concluded with the Lions having dominated the Seahawks 82-42.
The victory improved Columbia to 6-4 before they met up with Seton Hall on the road on Tuesday. Wagner is 2-6 and will be at Rider in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, this Saturday. With a large lead in the second half and the game in hand, the Lions were able to clear their bench and get several players valuable playing time.
Freshman forward Alicia Mitchell logged five minutes and scored three points. “It meant so much, honestly,” said Mitchell. “Not just from my teammates supporting me on the bench, but my coach, knowing that she supports me and fully trusts me. It was really exciting; all the energy was contagious. It was just great being out there.”
While head coach Megan Griffith is glad players got playing time, she said practice is the most important thing in a player’s development. “Game minutes are great, but practice is better,” she said. “They practice every day. I don’t care how many minutes you play in the game; to me, that’s just the show. If we’re getting better every day in practice, which I know they are, they’ll get rewarded in the games. It’s how we do everything, not just how we play in a game.”
Columbia sustained its intensity for most of the game. Griffith noted that the season’s early games — both wins and losses — were close. This was not the Lions’ first dominant performance. They defeated Manhattan University 84-38 last week. The coach noted that maintaining good habits while having a wide margin is important to her team’s collective improvement
“The more disciplined you can be now, the more disciplined you’re going to be later,” said Griffith. “Missed free throws and turnovers [are a problem]. That’s what good teams in March (NCAA Tournament time) are really good at. We’re going to get there, but you have to, no matter who is playing, understand the value of a possession.”