FORT MYERS, Fla. (Interstat) — The Columbia Lions used a decisive third-quarter surge to defeat the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 63-44 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Monday afternoon at Alico Arena.

Columbia led 30-29 at halftime but broke the game open by outscoring Florida Gulf Coast 25-4 in the third period. Riley Weiss led all scorers with 24 points for the Lions, who improved to 9-4. Nay Staton scored 13 points for the Eagles, who fell to 4-7 before an announced crowd of 1,297.

The Lions’ defense stifled the Eagles after intermission, holding them to 15 second-half points. Columbia now prepares to open Ivy League play Saturday against Cornell.