Boxscore

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Big Red women's basketball team fell to Columbia, 68-44, in the Ivy League opener for both teams this afternoon at Newman Arena. With the loss, Cornell falls to 5-9 overall, while the Lions improve to 10-5 overall.

Cornell (5-9, 0-1 Ivy) was led by Allie Munson, who filled out the stat line with 11 points, four rebounds, two blocks and one assist. Lauren Benson added seven points, four rebounds and two assists, while Claire Fitzpatrick grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

Columbia (10-5, 1-0) was led by Judie Lomax, who posted a 17-point, 16-rebound double-double. Kathleen Barry and Lauren Dwyer also scored in double-figures for the Lions with 17 and 13 points, respectively. Sara Yee handed out a game-high five assists.

The Lions jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, but a traditional three-point play by Munson and a single made free throw by Virginia McMunigal made it a one-point game, 5-4, at the 16:32 mark. Columbia used a 10-3 scoring run over the next three minutes to put the visitors up, 15-7. The lone Big Red basket during the run came from a 3-pointer by Benson. A converted free throw by Fitzpatrick ended the run and Cornell clawed back into the game with a layup from Munson and a jumper by McMunigal to pull within four points but a jumper by Dwyer ended the threat and the Lions went on to score the next nine points to make is at 25-12 game with 8:53 to play in the half.

A pair of made free throws, followed by a jumper from Allie Fedorowicz cut the Columbia lead back to single-digits, but with 7:37 to play the Lions ended the half on an 18-4 run to take the 43-20 lead into the intermission.

Columbia opened the second half on an 8-2 run to build an insurmountable 51-22 lead with 13:24 to play. From there, the Lions rolled to the 68-44 victory.

The Big Red is back in action next weekend when it completes its home-and-home series with Columbia at Levian Gym on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 4:30 p.m.