CANCÚN, Mexico (Interstat) — In a neutral-site clash defined by offensive efficiency and a decisive fourth-quarter surge, the Columbia Lions pulled away from the South Dakota State Jackrabbits for an 80-67 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday.

Playing at the Poliforum Benito Juarez before an intimate gathering of 200 fans, the two teams were locked in a tight battle for three quarters before the Lions unleashed a 26-point final period to secure the win. The game was a tale of two offenses, with Columbia’s superior shooting from beyond the arc and the free-throw line proving to be the ultimate difference-maker.

The contest was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip. The first quarter ended in an 18-18 deadlock, and Columbia managed to take only a slim 33-32 lead into halftime. The third quarter saw both teams trade blows, each scoring 21 points, which set the stage for the Lions’ dominant finish with a 54-39 scoring advantage in the second half.

Columbia’s offensive execution was led by a spectacular 31-point performance from Riley Weiss. The guard from Hewlett, N.Y., was efficient and clutch, spearheading the Lions’ fourth-quarter explosion. She received crucial support from Perri Page of Pittsburgh, Pa., who tallied 13 points and five rebounds, and a balanced international contingent. Marija Avlijas of Belgrade, Serbia, scored 10 points, while Fliss Henderson of North Curl Curl, Australia, added 12.

For South Dakota State, the offense ran primarily through Brooklyn Meyer. The 6-foot-2 forward from Larchwood, Iowa, was a force inside, pouring in 28 points and grabbing six rebounds. Madison Mathiowetz of Sleepy Eye, Minn., provided a significant secondary scoring punch with 19 points. The Jackrabbits also controlled the glass, with Maggie Hartwig of Sauk City, Wis., pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds.

Despite Meyer’s individual brilliance, the Jackrabbits struggled with their shooting touch. South Dakota State converted on just 41.5 percent of its field goal attempts, a figure overshadowed by Columbia’s 47.4 percent shooting. The disparity was even more pronounced from long range, where the Lions shot a sharp 50 percent, hitting eight of their 16 attempts, compared to the Jackrabbits’ three makes on 10 tries.

The free-throw line also told a critical part of the story. Columbia capitalized on its opportunities, making 18 of 21 attempts for an 85.7 percent success rate. South Dakota State, conversely, left points on the board, converting only 20 of its 30 trips to the line.

Defensively, both teams were active, each recording eight steals. South Dakota State held a slight edge in rebounding and blocks, but Columbia’s ability to generate more efficient offensive possessions, evidenced by an offensive rating of 105.3 compared to South Dakota State’s 94.0, was the fundamental key to the victory.

The loss drops South Dakota State’s record to 5-2 on the young season, while Columbia improves to 4-3. Both teams will remain in Cancún for their next contests on Saturday, with South Dakota State set to face Kansas State and Columbia taking on North Carolina.