Columbia Women's Basketball Wins WBIT Championship 81-64

Columbia University's women's basketball team just proved that sometimes the best response to falling short is coming back stronger.

The Lions captured the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament championship on Wednesday night in Wichita, defeating BYU 81-64 in a game they controlled from start to finish. It capped off a remarkable tournament run where Columbia held the lead for an astounding 96 percent of playing time across all five games.

Senior Riley Weiss delivered when it mattered most, scoring 20 points in the championship game and earning Most Outstanding Player honors. Her tournament performance was stellar: 21.2 points per game while shooting 43 percent from three-point range. But her postgame comments revealed what fueled the team's drive.

"A few weeks ago, we fell short of some of the goals we wanted to achieve," Weiss told ESPN2. "We weren't going back to New York City without a championship."

Mia Broom matched Weiss's intensity with 23 points, connecting on four three-pointers and displaying ice-cold composure at the free-throw line. Susie Rafiu added 12 points and eight rebounds, giving Columbia three players on the All-Tournament Team.

The Lions built their victory on suffocating defense and relentless offensive pressure. They held BYU to just 20 percent shooting in the first quarter and never let the Cougars find their rhythm. Columbia stretched the lead to 27 points in the fourth quarter before BYU mounted a late rally that ultimately fell short.

The Ripple Effect

This championship represents more than just a trophy for Columbia's program. The Lions finished 25-8 after an 11-3 conference record, showing that Ivy League basketball continues gaining national respect. For a team that entered the tournament as a fourth seed, their wire-to-wire dominance in three separate games demonstrated they belonged among the country's best.

The victory also highlights the growing importance of postseason tournaments beyond the NCAA bracket. The WBIT gives talented teams another chance to compete, develop, and celebrate success when their season could have ended in disappointment.

Columbia's players will return to New York City as champions, carrying confetti memories and hardware that validates their season-long effort. Their turnaround story reminds us that setbacks don't define us. How we respond to them does.