Box Score ITHACA, N.Y. – Senior Joelle Davidson exploded with career highs of 17 points and 14 rebounds and Cornell dominated from start to finish to knock off Columbia 76-51 on Saturday afternoon at Newman Arena. The Big Red improved to 9-7 (1-1 Ivy), while the Lions fell to 4-12 (1-1 Ivy).

Davidson, who entered the contest with career totals of 17 points and 27 rebounds, was all over the floor. She hit 5-of-6 shots from the floor and all seven of her free-throw attempts (she was 3-of-11 career from the free-throw line entering the game). She had seven offense rebounds and was largely responsible for the Big Red's energy on the way to a dominant 43-25 edge on the backboards.

Freshman Nia Marshall added 17 points, six rebounds and six steals and Stephanie Long had nine points and six rebounds for the Big Red. Cornell shot 48 percent from the floor and had 11 steals as a team, but it was the defense that really was outstanding. The Big Red allowed the Lions to shoot just 27 percent from the floor and 32 percent for the game and had the visitors under 30 points until the Lions hit a trey with a little over eight minutes remaining in the game.

Courtney Bradford was the lone Lions player in double figures with 10 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Tori Oliver added six points and eight rebounds and Carolyn Binder, Ara Talkov and Carolyn Gallagher each had eight points.

After last weekend's disappointing road loss to the Lions, the Big Red refocused, and it was evident from the start. If the first five minutes of the game was going to set the tone, it was always destined by be a Big Red runaway. Cornell's defense was suffocating, the Big Red was dominant on the backboards and it was patient on offense. In the end, the home team went on separate runs of 15-0 and 16-0 en route to the easy triumph.

Cornell built a 10-2 lead by the first media timeout and never looked back. Columbia momentarily quieted the crowd by crawling back to within 10-6 six minutes in before the Big Red's 15-0 run that featured six points from Marshall and five from Davidson. The home team went on another 16-0 run late in the half that featured eight points from Christine Kline, including back-to-back 3-pointers to build the lead to 48-15. It was 49-17 at halftime.

There would be no magic for the Lions this time after their emotional win at Levien Gymnasium. Cornell picked right up where it left off after the break and ballooned the lead to as many as 42 points midway through the second half before both teams went to their benches. It was a 36-point game with four minutes to go before the Lions were able to cut into the score.

The Big Red continues its three-game Ivy League homestand when it plays host to Brown on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at Newman Arena.