Box Score Columbia, Mo. - The 21^st-ranked Lady Cougar basketball team earned a 77-54 victory over the University of Saint Mary on Saturday night in their first game of the 2013 Cougars vs. Cancer Classic, presented by Cost Cutters. Columbia improves to 5-4 on the year with the win.

With the score tied at 18 midway through the first half, the Lady Cougars reeled off a 23-5 run over the next five minutes, capped off by Tierney Seifert's fourth three-pointer of the opening period. Columbia led 46-27 at the halftime break, led by Seifert with 16 points.

The Lady Cougars continued to dominate throughout the second half, stretching their lead out to 31 at the 3:36 mark. Columbia hit 13 of 34 attempts from the field in the final period to finish at 37 percent for the game. Seifert finished with a game-high 16 points and four assists to lead four Lady Cougars in double figures. Columbia owned a 65-37 rebounding advantage on the night, led by a double-double from Laurel Wichmann (15 points-11 rebounds) and Corri Hamilton (15 points-10 rebounds).

In Saturday's earlier game, the William Woods women's squad defeated University of the Cumberlands by a score of 81-72. Blake French led the way for the Owls with a game-high 18 points.

Columbia will close out the Cougars vs. Cancer Classic tomorrow against Cumberlands at the Arena of Southwell Complex. Game time is scheduled for 6:00 pm.