The Columbia women's basketball team that took the floor in the second half wasn't the same as the women in the first two quarters.
The Lions looked like the team they were all seasons in the Lions.
They were rough, diving for loose balls, forcing them to leave, and making shots.
Columbia, led by sophomore Riley Weiss, overcomes a 13-point halftime deficit by beating Washington 63-60 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Thursday night to advance to the first round.
It wasn't pretty, but there was no need to do so.
This is a month of survival and progress, and that's what Colombia succeeded after a shortage in the first four of last year.
Thursday's thriller was the Lions' first NCAA tournament victory, setting the stage for Columbia to play six-seeded West Virginia on Saturday.
Husky guard El Radin drilled three pointers with 14 seconds left to keep the Lions leading to one point.
Weiss then made two free throws for the victory.
The Husky's final attempt was not good.
Columbia coach Megan Griffith's game was a message to the team before the game.
However, that message didn't seem to be set for her team until the second half.
Weiss scored 19 of his game-high 24 points in the last two quarters, helping the Lions move forward forever. Senior Kitty Henderson added 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steels.
While the Lions struggled, Washington settled into the game at the start.
Columbia missed the first nine three pointers in the second quarter before Weiss erased the team's first tray.
The Husky regularly smashed the press and fed the balls in front of Dalaya Daniels.
Daniels scored 11 of 17 points in the first half, bringing the Husky to a 34-21 lead.
Columbia's first four wins in Washington. AP
From the locker room, the Lions' strong defensive efforts helped them slowly cut down the deficit.
Weiss hit a back-to-back 3 in the fourth quarter, giving the Lions the first lead of the game.
The two teams traded batting for the rest of the game, with neither team leading more than five points.
But in the end, the lion managed to keep doing it.
The Lions, which won second consecutive big bids after a shortage in the Ivy League Tournament Championship Game, are 1-1 in the NCAA Tournament Games.
