INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — In a season-opening thriller that required an extra period to decide, the Columbia Lions outlasted the Butler Bulldogs 74-69 in overtime in a non-conference women’s basketball game Friday night at a sparsely attended Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 893, saw the Lions nearly squander a late lead before regrouping in the extra session to secure the victory. The win gave Columbia a 1-0 start to the season, while Butler evened its record at 1-1.

The game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip, with neither team able to establish a commanding lead through the first half. Columbia held a narrow 29-27 advantage at halftime, outscoring Butler 14-13 in the first quarter and 15-14 in the second. The Lions maintained their offensive rhythm after the break, adding 16 points in the third quarter. However, the Bulldogs found their footing offensively as well, erupting for 18 points in the period to take a slim 45-44 lead into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter was a tense battle, with both teams trading baskets and the lead. Columbia managed to put 15 points on the board, while Butler countered with 15 of its own, sending the game into overtime knotted at 59-59.

In the extra period, the Lions demonstrated superior composure and execution. Columbia’s offense clicked for 14 points, while its defense clamped down, holding the Bulldogs to just nine. The surge in overtime proved decisive, allowing the Lions to escape Indianapolis with a hard-fought five-point win.

The victory was spearheaded by a phenomenal individual performance from Columbia’s Riley Weiss. The guard from Hewlett, N.Y., was the game’s leading scorer, pouring in 27 points while playing a team-high 41 minutes. She also contributed five rebounds and an assist, providing the offensive firepower the Lions needed throughout the contest.

Weiss was complemented by a dominant double-double from forward Perri Page. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native was a force on both ends of the floor, scoring 19 points and hauling in a game-high 10 rebounds in 39 minutes of action. Her presence in the paint was critical, especially during the overtime period.

Columbia also received a significant contribution from Susie Rafiu. The forward from Ipswich, England, provided a vital scoring punch off the bench, chipping in 13 points and four rebounds in 27 minutes. While guard Fliss Henderson of North Curl Curl, Australia, scored only a single point, she impacted the game in other ways, dishing out four assists and pulling down seven rebounds.

For Butler, the scoring load was shared by a trio of players. Nevaeh Jackson, a Fort Wayne, Ind., native, led the Bulldogs with 14 points and seven rebounds. She was joined in double figures by Lily Zeinstra of Byron Center, Mich., and Kennedy Langham of Harvest, Ala., who each scored 13 points. Zeinstra also recorded three assists.

The Bulldogs controlled the glass for much of the game, with Caroline Dotsey and Saniya Jackson providing strong rebounding efforts. Dotsey, from Havertown, Pa., grabbed seven rebounds to go with four points, while Saniya Jackson, also from Fort Wayne, Ind., collected six rebounds. Anna Wypych of Rockford, Mich., facilitated the offense with a team-high three assists.

The loss comes after a strong start to the season for Butler, which defeated Wright State 74-53 at home on Monday. The Bulldogs will look to return to the win column when they host Central Michigan on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Columbia, which entered the game as a significant favorite according to Interstat’s ELO system with an 86.70 percent probability to win, will have little time to rest. The Lions continue their early-season road trip with a game at Ohio on Sunday, Nov. 9. Following that contest, Columbia will play eight of its next nine games at home, beginning with a matchup against Richmond on Saturday, Nov. 15.

Butler’s upcoming schedule features a challenging stretch, including a road game against in-state rival Indiana on Nov. 19 and a multi-team event in Fort Myers, Fla., around the Thanksgiving holiday where they will face Dayton and Georgia.