Preview: Wagner Seahawks at Columbia Lions NEW YORK (Interstat) — The Columbia Lions look to continue their momentum from a dominant win when they host the Wagner Seahawks in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at Levien Gymnasium. Columbia (5-4) is coming off an 84-38 road victory over Manhattan on Wednesday, a performance that followed a challenging stretch against high-major opponents. The Lions’ season has been marked by explosive offense, averaging over 75 points per game, but also notable defensive lapses in losses to Power Five foes North Carolina and Kansas State. Wagner (2-5) arrives with some confidence after snapping a four-game skid with a 67-54 home win over Cornell on Nov. 30. The Seahawks have struggled offensively for long stretches this season, failing to reach 60 points in five of their seven games. Their defense will be tested by a potent Columbia attack. A key matchup will feature two standout guards. Columbia’s Riley Weiss has been a dynamic scorer, averaging 18.2 points per game. She is coming off a 31-point performance against South Dakota State on Nov. 28 and scored 21 against North Carolina. Her ability to create shots will be central to the Lions’ game plan. For Wagner, Irene Fernandez de Caleya is a focal point. The guard is coming off a solid all-around performance against Cornell, with 11 points and four assists in 28 minutes. She leads the Seahawks in assists and will be tasked with both facilitating and containing Weiss on the defensive end. In their last outing, Columbia saw balanced production behind Weiss, with Perri Page (15 points) and Mia Broom (10 points, four assists) contributing significantly. Wagner’s win over Cornell was bolstered by Raneem Elbarky’s team-high 15 points and 12 points from Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor. Historically, this intrastate matchup has been rare. The Lions will aim to use their home court and offensive firepower to build a winning record before a quick turnaround at Seton Hall on Tuesday. The Seahawks seek a rare road victory to build consistency before Northeast Conference play begins next month. Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.