NEW YORK – For three quarters of Saturday's women's basketball contest between the Big Red and Columbia, it was Cornell that was enjoying its best 3-point shooting game of the season. But for as hot as the Big Red was from behind the arc for the first 30 minutes of the game, Columbia was even hotter in crunch time, outscoring Cornell, 28-15, in the fourth quarter en route to a 76-66 victory over the Big Red at Levien Gymnasium in New York.
For much of Saturday's game, it was the Big Red that was making it rain, as Shannon Mulroy, Danielle Jorgenson, Samantha Widmann, and Kate Sramac combined to sink seven 3-pointers in the first three quarters of play – already nearly three more than the Big Red's average of 4.3 3-point field goals per game. With the baskets dropping, Cornell appeared to have the Lions under control, as the Big Red led from the 8:29 mark in the second quarter until just under six minutes left remaining in the game.
But at the six-minute mark in the fourth quarter, a switch flipped, and all of the momentum was in favor of the Lions, who knocked down five 3-point baskets over the home stretch to secure a 10-point victory over the Big Red. Four of the Lions' five 3-point field goals came on four-consecutive possessions in the closing minutes of the game, making it extremely difficult for the Big Red to regain its footing.
Columbia was able to capitalize in the manner that it did because of the way that it attacked the boards in the final period of play. The Lions secured five of its 12 offensive boards in the fourth quarter, creating additional opportunities for itself and controlling the time of possession. In a rebounding sense, the Lions beat Cornell at its own game, and for the first time this season, the Big Red was outrebounded, 32-28.
The Big Red was led by Mulroy and Widmann, who both notched a team-high 16 points. Playing close to home, the New Jersey natives made their presences known. Mulroy was feeling it from behind the arc, connecting on four baskets from long range, two in the first quarter and two in the third, and going 6-of-14 from the floor en route to a new career-high. Mulroy put the Big Red on her back in the first quarter, scoring 10 of the Big Red's first 15 points before picking up two early fouls. Mulroy did not let this adversity phase her, however, picking up right where she left off when she re-entered the game in the third quarter.
With the game knotted up at 20-20 after the first period of play, Danielle Jorgenson stepped into the game seamlessly with Mulroy in foul trouble. The senior point guard sank a 3-point basket that gave Cornell the lead at the 8:29 mark in the second quarter and kick-started a 9-0 run that gave the Big Red a 29-22 advantage. Jorgenson notched eight second quarter points, including shooting a perfect 2-of-2 from 3-point land. She would also finish the contest with four rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Widmann was the other key contributor in the Big Red's 9-0 run, scoring the final six points to build the lead that Cornell wouldn't relinquish until the fourth quarter. With her 16 points today on 5-of-8 shooting and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe, Widmann is now just four points away from scoring 1,000 for her Big Red career. The senior filled the stat sheet, adding seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block.
Laura Bagwell-Katalinich and Theresa Grace Mbanefo chipped in nine and seven points, respectively. Mbanefo also collected five boards.
The Cornell women's basketball team won't have to wait long to get its rematch with Columbia, as the Big Red will welcome the Lions to Newman Arena in its next contest on Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. in Ithaca, N.Y.
