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ITHACA, N.Y. -- Seniors Allie Munson and Maka Anyanwu provided a great lift and the Cornell underclassmen responded, running away in the second half for a 77-52 victory over Columbia on Tuesday evening at Newman Arena. The Big Red finished its 2011-12 season 12-16 (6-8 Ivy), doubling its win totals both overall and in conference action.

Munson brought the crowd to its feet several times in her 17 energetic minutes, scoring 10 points, grabbing six rebounds, stealing three passes and blocking two shots. Anyanwu was plent impressive herself, scoring eight points with five rebounds and two steals. The duo was recognized in a pregame ceremony.

Cornell went on a 17-0 run to open the second half, a run that extended to 20-0 after scoring the last three of the first half. The Big Red turned a five-point halftime lead into a 22-point edge. The Lions never got within 19 points the rest of the way.

Allyson DiMagno led Cornell with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Clare Fitzpatrick netted 15 points and five rebounds off the bench in just 21 minutes. Spencer Lane chipped in eight points and five assists and Taylor Flynn hit a pair of 3-pointers. Cornell played excellent basketball throughout, assisting on 19 baskets, allowing just 35 percent shooting defensively and controlling the backboard with a 39-30 edge. The big Red had 12 team steals and used a dominant 31-4 scoring edge off the bench to wear down the Lions.

Columbia, who ended their season at 3-25 (1-13 Ivy) were led by Taylor Ward's 16 points. Both Tyler Simpson and Courtney Bradford scored 10 points apiece. Columbia made 7-of-19 shots from beyond the arc and assisted on 14 of its 19 baskets.

The two teams played an even 10 minutes of basketball to open the contest before a bucket by Fitzpatrick and a 3-pointer by Flynn gave the Big Red an 18-13 edge with 8:34 left in the half. Five straight points by DiMagno put the home team up 23-15, but the Lions again made a comeback. Columbia cut the deficit to one at 27-26 on a Simpson free throw, but she missed the second to let Cornell keep the lead. The Big Red would score the next two baskets to extend the lead back to five, with Flynn's second trey sending the home team into the locker room up 32-27.

Cornell immediately took control after the break. A steal by Anyanwu on one end led to a basket by Munson on the other end. On Columbia's ensuing possession, Munson blocked two Lion shots and after Cornell controlled the rebound, she finished on the other end on a feed from her classmate Anyanwu. Anyanwu scored the next two baskets and the Big Red was off and running. When Flynn found Fitzpatrick for a layup with 13:07, Cornell was up 49-27.

Columbia finally got on the scoreboard when Ward nailed a 3-pointer with 12:39 remaining, ending a field goal-less drought of 14:58 going back to the first half. Columbia would never threaten the rest of the way. The home team would have a furious finish despite the lopsided score, as Munson visibly dominated the final few minutes of her collegiate career. She hit four free throws in the final three and a half minutes to get into double figures, had a steal, two rebounds and a great pass underneath to Joelle Davidson for a bucket before head coach Dayna Smith subbed out both seniors and greeted them on the sideline with big hugs.

Freshman Christine Kline scored in the final 30 seconds on a nifty step-through jumper for her first collegiate points to close out the Big Red's scoring.