NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Ivy League's Columbia University shot 50 percent from the field and over 50 percent from beyond the arc Sunday afternoon inside the Curb Event Center as the Belmont University women's basketball team was defeated 84-64 in the final game of the Nashville Opening Statement. The visiting Lions (3-0) went 14-for-27 (51.9 percent) from outside and were 30-for-60 overall from the floor as the Bruins (0-3) struggled from distance, going 5-for-22 (22.7 percent).
 
Columbia used a 17-5 scoring run, which included three 3-pointers from reigning Ivy League Player of the Year Riley Weiss and two treys from fellow starting guard Mia Broom, over a four-minute stretch in the fourth quarter to distance itself. The Lions scored 29 points in the fourth quarter and led by 21 at 74-53 with five minutes to go.
 
Freshman guard Chelby Jordan was one of three Belmont players to reach double figures, notching her first 20-point game in only her third collegiate outing. Shooting 8-for-12 from the field, Jordan scored 20 while also dishing out a game-best five assists and grabbing five boards.
 
Sophomore guard Kate McGinnis continued her tear from 3-point range, connecting on four triples and finishing with 15 points. Graduate guard Kenley McCarn totaled 11 points and brought down a team-high seven rebounds.
 
The Bruins were outrebounded 42-31 and Columbia scored 22 points off 17 Belmont turnovers.
 
Getting 19 points off the bench, the Bruins forced 19 Lion turnovers, which led to 18 points.
 
Jordan scored Belmont's first two baskets, and a pair of McGinnis 3-pointers gave the Bruins their first lead at 16-15, erasing an early seven-point deficit. Belmont ended the opening quarter on an 11-3 run with three McGinnis 3-pointers. She splashed in her third triple from logo range as the first-quarter buzzer sounded.

KATE McGINNIS RANGE!!! 1st quarter buzzer beater ?? #ItsBruinTime | #Splashville | #SCTop10 https://t.co/HhYvzPgexP

— Belmont WBasketball (@BelmontWBB) November 8, 2026

The Bruins led 19-18 after the first quarter of play.
 
Columbia outscored Belmont 24-12 in the second quarter, thanks in large part to a 15-4 run over six minutes of action, to build a 42-31 halftime lead.
 
Jordan had 11 at the break.
 
The Lions made seven of their first 14 3-point attempts and got 14 first-half points from starting forward Mary Ashley Stevenson.
 
The Bruins scored the first five points of the second half but could get no closer than six the remainder of the afternoon. A couple of tough baseline jumpers from Jordan kept Belmont within striking distance at 51-44 late in the third quarter. However, Columbia took a 55-44 lead into the final quarter.
 
Between the second and third quarters, the Bruins shot 33.3 percent on 9-for-27 from the field.
 
McCarn knocked down two free throws in the first minute of the fourth to make it 57-48, but from there the Lions led by double digits the rest of the way. A Weiss 3-pointer ignited Columbia's deciding 17-5 run.
 
The Lions shot 68.8 percent (11-of-16) in the fourth quarter and were 6-for-9 from long range. Weiss scored 13 in the fourth and 21 of her game-high 28 points in the second half.
 
Columbia shot 53.3 percent (16-of-30) across the second 20 minutes of play.
 
The Lions also got a double-double from starting guard Fliss Henderson, who had 13 rebounds and 11 points, while Broom finished with 11 points and six steals for Columbia.
 
Of Note

• The game closed out the inaugural Opening Statement.
• Belmont was one of two Opening Statement sites with the University of Richmond serving as the other.
• The Opening Statement is a new cross-conference early-season event featuring the top teams from the Missouri Valley Conference, American Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference and Ivy League.
• It was the first-ever matchup between the Bruins and the Lions.
• Sunday was also just Belmont's fifth game against an Ivy League school.
• Both Jordan and McCarn have scored in double figures in their first three games as Bruins.

Up Next
Belmont continues its five-game homestand next weekend with education day Friday against Troy. Tipoff from the Curb is slated for 11 a.m. and the early game will be broadcast on ESPN+. On Tuesday, Nov. 17, the Bruins host eight-time national champion Tennessee.
 
Season Tickets
Basketball season tickets, which include all Belmont women's and men's home games, are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting BelmontBruins.com/Tickets. Belmont Bruin Club memberships are also available.
 
How to Follow
Follow Belmont women's basketball on social media - @BelmontWBB on X, formerly Twitter, @belmontwbb on Instagram and Belmont Women's Basketball on Facebook - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.