Riley Weiss made history on Saturday by scoring 40 points, leading Columbia to a dominant 89-32 victory over Dartmouth. This impressive performance took place at Schiller Court in Levien Gymnasium.
Weiss shot an impressive 15 for 23 from the field and 9 for 13 from three-point range. She set a Columbia record for most points in a game and at halftime, she had already tallied 26 points—the highest ever for a Lion in one half. She surpassed her previous career-high of 34 points with a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter. As she drained her final three-pointer, she became the first player in Columbia’s history to hit the 40-point mark in a single game, breaking the record of 39 set by Ellen Bossert in 1986.
After the game, Weiss expressed her excitement, saying, “It feels really good. I’ve been focusing on how to impact the game in more ways.” She emphasized her growth and adjustments throughout the season.
But Weiss didn’t just shine on offense; she also contributed defensively with a career-high eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. Coach Megan Griffith praised her performance, noting it was a result of hard work and increased confidence, saying, “She is just getting started.”
The Lions shot 50.7% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. Sophomore Mia Broom and junior Fliss Henderson also made notable contributions, with Broom hitting three three-pointers and Henderson recording six assists.
Dartmouth, struggling with accuracy, managed only 22% shooting overall. Zeynep Ozel led the Big Green with 14 points, but the team couldn’t match Columbia’s pace.
Weiss quickly established dominance in the first quarter, pushing the Lions to a 29-10 lead. Columbia launched a 17-0 run in the second quarter, powered by an unrelenting offensive effort from Weiss, who outscored Dartmouth 26-14 by herself in that period.
As the final quarter unfolded, the overriding question was not whether Columbia would win, but how many points Weiss would finish with. Her record-setting shot with just over five minutes remaining brought the score to 82-30, leading her to exit the game to a standing ovation.
Weiss made the tough climb to the record books, proving her dedication to the game. Next weekend, Columbia will face tough opponents—No. 20 Princeton and Penn. Friday’s game against Princeton will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU.
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