WVU MOUNTAINEERS VS. COLUMBIA LIONS PREVIEW — MARCH 22, 2025 —The WVU Mountaineers (24-7) square off against the Columbia Lions (24-6) in the first round of the women’s NCAA tournament. Here’s how both teams have performed coming into this matchup.
Tipoff
When: March 22, 2025 @ 2:00 PM EST
Where: Carmichael Arena, Chapel Hill, NC
TV: ESPNews
WVU Looks To Bounce Back From Six-Point Loss Against TCU
Following a three-game winning streak, the Mountaineers suffered a 71-65 setback at the hands of the TCU Horned Frogs on Mar. 8.
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Senior guard JJ Quinerly was one of four starters who registered a double-digit scoring total. She finished with 20 points, four rebounds, and two assists, marking the fourth straight time Quinerly topped the 20-point mark.
Kylee Blacksten and Sydney Shaw scored 11 points each, and Jordan Harrison chipped in with 10 points and four assists. West Virginia struggled in the first half and trailed 40-25 at the break. However, the Mountaineers battled back, trimming the deficit to 62-57 following a basket by Quinerly.
Unfortunately, on TCU’s next possession, they seized three consecutive offensive rebounds, setting up a back-breaking 3-point basket from Madison Conner. The key bucket was the separation TCU needed down the stretch, and they held on for a six-point victory.
Columbia’s Defense Keyed Second-Half Comeback Against The Huskies
On the other hand, the Columbia Lions enter this matchup fresh off a 63-60 win against the Washington Huskies on Thursday night.
Riley Weiss was the key performer for Columbia, scoring a team-high 24 points and two rebounds on 7-for-18 shooting overall and 5-for-11 from 3-point range. Cecilia Collins logged 12 points and two rebounds, while Kitty Henderson contributed 11 points, seven boards, and seven dimes.
Early on, the Lions struggled, connecting on just 30 percent of their shot attempts while going 2-for-15 from long range, which resulted in a 34-21 halftime deficit. Columbia responded in the second half, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
Weiss knocked down two free throws to give the Lions a 61-57 advantage in the game’s waning moments. On the next possession, Washington’s Elle Ladine hit a deep shot from 3-point range, making it a one-point game.
With ice in her veins, Weiss stepped up and hit another pair of free throws, extending Columbia’s lead to 63-60 with 12 seconds left to play. With a chance to send the game into overtime, Ladine’s 3-pointer was off the mark. Perri Page rebounded the miss and had a chance to put the game away from the charity stripe.
Although Page missed both free throws, Washington had to settle for a deep 80-foot heave that fell short because they were out of timeouts.
WVU vs Columbia Prediction: Who Has The Edge?
The Mountaineers are 14-6 against teams in the Big 12 and boast an impressive 10-1 record in non-conference games. WVU averages 75.9 points per outing, outscoring opponents by a whopping 20.4 points per contest.
Meanwhile, the Lions have produced a 14-2 mark in Ivy League play. Columbia ranks third in the Ivy League, giving up 58.6 points per game and holding opponents to just 41.6 percent shooting from the field.
While Columbia’s defense was impressive in the second half against Washington, look for the Mountaineers to come out on top in what should be a low-scoring affair.
