Down by one with 20 seconds to go, Brown’s Hannah Passafuime stepped to the free throw line with a chance to lead Brown to a huge upset over Columbia. She was eight for eight from the line headed into these free throws, but wilted under pressure and missed both.
Columbia’s senior guard Danielle Browne was next up under the spotlight. She displayed her composure, making both free throws to give the Lions a three point lead. After Brown’s Lindsay Nickel missed a desperation three, Columbia’s Judie Lomax added two more free throws to give Columbia a 65-60 win.
The Bears played this game close throughout, with its swarming defense forcing Columbia into a season-high 30 turnovers. If not for their own troubles holding on to the ball – the Bears committed 28 turnovers themselves – they easily could have come out with the upset.
Early on, it appeared as if that would happen. Behind freshman Nickel’s hot hand – she had 10 points in the first half - Brown jumped to a nine-point lead in the middle of the first half. However, Columbia would make a run of its own and eventually go into the half leading 34-33.
The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team ever being able to pull away. Columbia appeared headed into the right direction when Sara Yee hit a three to give her team an eight-point cushion with five minutes to play. However, a minute later Brown went on an 11-0 run, capped by Nickel making a baseline jumper to give the Bears a one-point lead with two minutes to play.
Columbia’s Judie Lomax, who had a game-high 23 points, then made a clutch shot near the key to give the Lions the lead again.
After Passafuime missed her critical free throws, the Lions were able to get enough to escape with the win.
Judie Lomax, in addition to scoring 23 points, also had a game-high 18 rebounds and had four steals. Sara Yee was next in scoring with 13 points. Center Lauren Dwyer blocked five shots in the game and Columbia’s Danielle Browne had a game-high five steals. Forward Kathleen Barry was limited to 13 minutes, missing most of the second half to a knee injury.
Christina Johnson led the Brown Bears with 17 points and seven rebounds and Nickel contributed 15 points and four rebounds.
With the win, the Lions now stand 4-1 in Ivy play. They next play at Yale tomorrow at 7 p.m.
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