ITHACA, N.Y. — The women's squash team jumped out to an early lead Friday, but couldn't hold on before suffering a 5-4 loss to Columbia in an Ivy League match at Belkin International Squash Courts. The loss marks the Big Red's first in five all-time meetings with the Lions.
 
Seventh-ranked Cornell (3-3, 1-2 Ivy League) had a one-point advantage after the first rotation. Sydney Francis swept her match at the No. 9 position, and Reut Odinak outlasted her opponent in five sets at No. 6.
 
Eighth-ranked Columbia (4-2, 2-1) responded by sweeping the middle rotation to take a 4-2 lead. The Big Red saw Emma Uible (No. 4) and Nghi Nguyen (No. 7) win their respective matches in five sets, but the Lions would win the day's final match. Uible, Odinak and Nguyen are all a team-best 4-2 on the season.
 
Cornell resumes play Saturday, Jan. 23 at St. Lawrence.
 
#8 COLUMBIA 5, #7 CORNELL 4
1. Tanvi Khanna (Clm) def. Michèle Garceau, 11-9, 13-11, 11-7
2. Maddie O'Connor (Clm) def. Rachel Scherman, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8
3. Catherine Jenkins (Clm) def. Margaux Losty, 12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9
4. Emma Uible (Cor) def. Reyna Pacheco, 13-11, 5-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8
5. Colette Sultana (Clm) def. Charlotte Knaggs, 11-4, 11-7, 4-11, 11-8
6. Reut Odinak (Cor) def. Maya Patel, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6
7. Nghi Nguyen (Cor) def. Addie Fulton, 8-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-2, 16-14
8. Leah Barnet (Clm) def. Hannah Scherl, 11-9, 12-10, 12-10
9. Sydney Francis (Cor) def. Diana Masch, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5
Ex. Lauren Leizman (Cor) def. Maryam Aly, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-2