Riley Weiss scored 24 points and Kitty Henderson counted 11 points, seven returns and seven assists when Columbia held Washington 63-60 in the first four of the women’s NCAA tournament on Thursday in Chapel Hill, NC
Columbia (24-6), who played in the first four for the second straight season, won an NCAA tournament game for the first time in program history. Lions received no 11 seed in Birmingham 2 region and meets no. 6 West Virginia on Saturday.
Lions gathered after releasing 21-10 at the end of the first quarter and 34-21 at half time. Weiss scored 19 of its points and scored four of its five 3-points during the second half.
She started the second half with a personal 7-0 driving-two triples and a free throw-to give Columbia her first lead at night. She beat another 3-point after the Huskies band the game.
Sayvia sellers made consecutive buckets to help Washington pull even at 54-54 with 3:34 left, but Susie Rafius layout 30 seconds later restored Lion’s lead for good. Weiss added four important free throws along the route when Elle Ladine tried to return Huskies with a couple of late 3 points.
Sellers had 21 points and six assists to run Huskies (19-14). Dalayah Daniels set up 17 points and 11 returns, and Ladine added 16 points and six boards.
Washington lost despite exceeding Columbia 52.9 percent to 40.7 percent from the field. The Huskies went a small 3-for-10 from the free throw line compared to the 12-AV-17 clip by Columbia.
Cecelia Collins got 12 points for Lions.
William & Mary 69, High Point 63
In its first NCAA tournament game ever, Pride continued its run behind a game-high 24 points from Bella Nascimento and eliminated SSS in a first four matchup in Austin, Texas.
Winners of five straight matches, the 16th seeded tribe (16-18) on to the first round Saturday against top seeds Texas in Birmingham 3 region.
Monet Dance added 15 for William & Mary, who won four matches in four days as no. 9 seeds to win the Coastal Athletic Association tournament and then came with big games in the route to extend their season. Natalie Fox scored 12 points and took 12 returns, while Cassidy Gerdes chipped in 12 points.
Lauren Scott scored 19 points to Pace High Point (21-12), who beat 34-28 at half time but struggled back to take a three-point leading halfway through the fourth quarter. Aaliyah Collins added 18 points and Jaleesa Lawrence contributed 15 points and seven returns.
Lawrence nailed a 3-pointer with 2:52 left in the match to bind the score of 57, but the trunk regained the lead for good on Fox’s setback on the 2: 11 mark. William & Mary sealed the result by making six straight foul shots during the last 27.1 seconds.
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