NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a pivotal Ivy League clash that saw a dramatic reversal of fortune, the Columbia Lions used a dominant second half to defeat the Princeton Tigers 70-56 in women’s basketball on Friday night at Levien Gymnasium.

A crowd of 2,014 watched as the Lions, avenging a loss from earlier in the season, overcame a sluggish start by outscoring the Tigers 45-25 over the final two quarters. The victory improved Columbia’s record to 16-6 overall, while Princeton, which entered the night leading the conference, fell to 19-3.

The game’s most important sequence unfolded in the third quarter, completely shifting the momentum. Princeton, which had controlled the first half behind efficient offense and led 31-25 at intermission, saw its game unravel after halftime. Columbia emerged from the locker room with intensified defensive pressure and a potent offensive rhythm, spearheaded by the standout duo of Perri Page and Riley Weiss.

The Lions opened the third quarter on a 15-4 run, erasing Princeton’s lead in just over four minutes. Weiss ignited the surge with a pair of three-pointers, while Page attacked the interior, converting a layup and drawing fouls. Princeton, which had shot confidently in the first half, went cold, committing turnovers and struggling to find clean looks against a reinvigorated Columbia defense. The Lions outscored Princeton 22-10 in the period, turning a six-point deficit into a 47-41 lead heading to the fourth.

Columbia’s onslaught continued in the final frame. The Lions scored the first five points of the quarter and never allowed Princeton to mount a serious threat. Every time the Tigers managed a basket, Columbia answered, often through Page in the post or Weiss from the perimeter. The Lions sealed the game at the free-throw line, with Page sinking two clutch shots with under a minute to play to extend the lead to an insurmountable 14 points.

Page, a junior from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, delivered a career-defining performance for Columbia, scoring a game-high 25 points. She was relentless in the paint, adding a block and a steal while playing 36 minutes. Weiss, a senior from Hewlett, New York, was equally instrumental, contributing 23 points, including three three-pointers, and providing a crucial defensive presence with a block and a steal.

For Princeton, Fadima Tall of Silver Spring, Maryland, led the way with 16 points and three assists. Olivia Hutcherson of Johns Creek, Georgia, added 12 points and four blocks, showcasing her defensive prowess. The Tigers, however, could not sustain their early offensive flow, which saw them score 20 points in the first quarter, and were ultimately undone by Columbia’s second-half adjustments.

Statistically, the game was closer than the final score indicated. Princeton held advantages in points in the paint, 36-32, and points off turnovers, 15-11. But Columbia’s explosive third-quarter performance, where they shot efficiently from the field and capitalized on Princeton’s miscues, proved to be the decisive factor.

The result shakes up the Ivy League standings and marks a significant season sweep for Columbia over a Princeton team that had defeated them just two weeks prior. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Columbia was projected with a narrow 50.60 percent probability to win, making the decisive nature of their victory all the more impressive.

Both teams return to action quickly in a compressed Ivy League schedule. Princeton travels to face Cornell on Saturday, while Columbia remains at home to host Penn.