Box Score Columbia, Mo. - The Lady Cougar basketball team came away with a 87-53 win over American Midwest Conference (AMC) newcomer Mid-Continent (Ky.) University in the two schools' first ever meeting on Tuesday night. With the victory, Columbia improves to 11-4 (7-0 AMC) on the year and has now won seven straight games dating back to December 28^th. Tuesday night's win was also Lady Cougar head coach Mike Davis' 301^st career victory at Columbia. Davis earned his 300^th win with the Lady Cougars on Saturday vs. Hannibal-LaGrange University and has compiled a cumulative record of 301-123 (.710) since arriving at Columbia in 2000.

The Lady Cougars raced out to a 16-6 lead and never trailed on their way to a 41-26 advantage at the halftime break. Columbia shot just 38 percent (14 for 37) from the field in the opening period, but converted 10 offensive rebounds into 16 second chance points in the frame. The Lady Cougars would stretch their lead out to 36 during the final period and cruise to victory from there behind a 49 percent shooting clip in the second half.

Sophomore transfer Janairrika Bland finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds in her debut to lead Columbia, who shot 43 percent from the floor for the game. Ashley Fisher (12 points-10 rebounds) and Laurel Wichmann (10 points-11 rebounds) also added a double-double to help the Lady Cougars finish with a season-high 72 rebounds on the night. Brittany Yost and Petrolina Chilaka rounded out the Columbia players in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

In Tuesday's latest release of the NAIA Women's Basketball Top 25 Poll, the Lady Cougars moved up two spots to No. 17 following an undefeated week that included conference wins over Williams Baptist College and Hannibal-LaGrange University. Fellow American Midwest Conference member school Freed-Hardeman University (15-0, 7-0 AMC) maintained their spot at No. 2 in the poll behind undefeated Vanguard University (11-0). Columbia will take on Freed-Hardeman on Saturday, January 18^th with first place in the AMC standings on the line. Prior to Saturday's showdown, The Lady Cougars will face off with crosstown league opponent Stephens College on Thursday, January 16^th. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm and will take place at the Arena of Southwell Complex.