NEW YORK, N.Y.- The Columbia Lions erased an 11-point Red Flash lead in the third quarter to hand the Flash their third-straight defeat 82-78 at Levien Gymnasium on Tuesday afternoon. 

The Flash raced out to a 59-48 lead midway through the third quarter as the fast-paced style of the Red Flash looked to be taking a toll on the diciplined Lions. But Columbia rallied back, using a 10-0 run to rally with in one and a 6-0 run to close the quarter. The Flash would go cold to start the fourth, going nearly four minutes without a field goal as Columbia built a 77-70 lead after a critical jumper by Alex Giuliano, who led the Lions with 21. The Flash would rally, cutting the lead to three, but couldn't pull closer as the Lions were able to milk the clock over the game's final posessions. 

"Just a devastating loss," coach Joe Haigh said. "We played well, liked the tempo, but credit Columbia, they hit the glass well and coverted in the end."

Columbia owned a 61-28 edge on the glass including a 19-6 advantage on the offensive glass. The Lions were plus-11 in second-chance points 16-5. 

"The rebounding was the difference here tonight," Haigh added. "Credit their guards, they got to the loose balls today, and that's the difference between a win and a loss. I loved our pace, loved the style of play through three quarters, over the final ten minutes, Columbia dictated the tempo."

The Lions jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first quarter, hitting on their first two shots as SFU started cold from the field. Cydney Smith (Port Tobacco, Md./St. Mary's Ryken) had a big three and a lay-up in the post to jump-start the offense and tie the game at five. Columbia would get hot from three as Guiliano hit a trio from long range as Columbia built their largest lead of the half at 17-10. The SFU pace would take control as they went 6-6 from the foul line down the stretch in the first and trailed 19-16 after the first quarter. 

Columbia would hold a two-possession lead for the early minutes of the second quarter. An Aisha Brock (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) three started a rally as a Samiah Bethel (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) and Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) jumpers followed as SFU took a 28-27 lead. The teams would trade baskets and the lead until the final minutes of the quarter. The Flash would end the half on a 9-2 run, paced by a Katie Reese (Boonton Township, N.J./Mountain Lakes) three pointer as SFU led 44-41 at the half. 

Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) had a quick three and lay-up to help the Flash build their largest lead of the game at 59-48. But the Flash went cold after the early run, surrendering the 10-0 run over a three-minute stretch as the Lions rallied back to cut the lead to one. A clutch Taylor Allison (State College, Pa./State College) three gave the Flash some breathing room, but the Lions again rallied to grab the lead heading into the fourth 66-65. 

Another Brock three tied the game at 68 at the start of the fourth, but it would be the last time the teams would be even on Tuesday. A 7-0 Lion run followed and proved to be too much to overcome. A furious SFU rally cut a nine-point advantage to three, but Columbia secured a couple of loose balls and ran out the clock to secure the win. 

Kovatch led all scorers and three players in double figures with 24 points. The Flashes great equalizer on Tuesday were 29 forced turnovers including 15 steals, eight by Kovatch. SFU will look to regroup as they travel to Athens to take on the Ohio Bobcats on Sunday. Tip time is set for 2 p.m..