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2019-20 Ivy League preview: Will it be Penn and Princeton again for the title?

By Matt Ward

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 11: Bella Alarie #31 (C) of the Princeton Tigers elates with her teammates with the win over the Harvard Crimson during an Ivy League semifinal matchup at The Palestra on March 11, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Princeton won 68-47. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 11: Bella Alarie #31 (C) of the Princeton Tigers elates with her teammates with the win over the Harvard Crimson during an Ivy League semifinal matchup at The Palestra on March 11, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Princeton won 68-47. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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The Lions time to roar?

Columbia

Last season: 8-19 overall (4-10 in Ivy League)

Predicted finish: 6th

Key Returners (Last season’s stats)

G- Sienna Durr, 6’0, So- 14.5 PPG, 6.2 rpg, 49% FG, 33% 3FG, 30 MPG

G- Janiya Clemmons, 5’9, Sr- 12.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 46% FG, 22% 3FG, 29 MPG

G- Riley Casey, 5’8, Jr- 12.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 35% FG, 34% 3FG, 29 MPG

G- Madison Hardy, 5’9, So- 7.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 36% FG, 33% 3FG, 19.6 MPG

Biggest Losses (Last season’s stats)

None.

Newcomers

F- Kaitlyn Davis, 6’0, Fr

G- Carly Rivera, 5’4 Fr

G- Abbey Hsu, 5’11, Fr

Head Coach- Megan Griffith (4th season)

Key Non-Conference Games

Nov 10 vs. Fordham

Dec 6 vs. Georgetown

Jan 4 vs. Mercer

Outlook

Megan Griffith enters her fourth season as the head coach of the Lions, and she has her team trending in the right direction. While they recorded only four wins in the league last year, two of those wins came against Harvard and Cornell, who both made it to Ivy Madness. The good news is that the Lions will return four starters, all of whom averaged 19 minutes per game or more last season, and their top five scorers from last season.

Sophomore guard Sienna Durr is coming off of a terrific freshman campaign and should be one of the top scoring guards in the conference. Senior guard Janiya Clemmons, who was second on the team in scoring last season behind Durr, brings a wealth of experience and toughness to a still young Lions squad. Offensively, the Lions could score with anyone in the league. It was the other end of the floor that caused them the most difficulties.

The biggest areas in which Columbia struggled last season were defense and rebounding. They finished 7th of eight teams in the league rebounding margin, rebounding offense, and rebounding defense, while finishing last in total offensive rebounds. The Lions finished 5th in scoring offense, but 7th in scoring defense, and were 3-15 in games in which they gave up 65 points or more. The Lions will need to improve on the defensive end and on the glass, if they want to improve upon their four conference wins from a year ago.

What Will Happen?

Columbia is going to take a giant step forward this season. While rebounding will still be a challenge, as they will likely start four guards, and will be outsized in many of their conference games, I believe that Coach Griffith will have them ready to really guard this year.

Durr and Clemmons, along with junior Riley Casey and sophomore, Madison Hardy, will continue to improve and put up points. I don’t have the Lions making it to Cambridge to participate in Ivy Madness this year, but they will be in the conversation come February, and it certainly wouldn’t surprise me if they grabbed the fourth spot.

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