Box Score Columbia, Mo. - The Lady Cougar basketball team won their fourth straight game on Saturday afternoon, defeating conference opponent Lyon (Ark.) College at home by a score of 86-71. Columbia, the 21^st-ranked team in the NAIA Top 25, improves to 8-4 overall with the victory and currently leads the American Midwest Conference (AMC) with a league record of 4-0.

The Lady Cougars jumped out to an early 13-5 lead in the first half as Heather English knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the opening minutes. The Scots used a 13-2 run over the next five minutes to grab their first lead of the game and led 23-19 with 8:53 remaining in the first period. Columbia would respond with a 12-0 run from there and take a 41-32 lead into the halftime break after shooting 44 percent from the field in the frame. English led the Lady Cougars with 14 points at the break after hitting four of five attempts from three-point range.

Columbia stretched its lead out to double digits to begin the second half and built a 63-42 advantage midway through the period. However, Lyon would rally with the help of 20-4 run over the next four minutes to cut the deficit to five at 67-62 with 8:23 to play. The Scots hung around the rest of the way before a 9-0 run by the Lady Cougars put the game away as Tierney Seifert knocked down her first three of the contest and Petrolina Chilaka converted a fast break layup for an 83-68 lead for Columbia.

The Lady Cougars finished the game at 46 percent (26 of 56) from the floor, led by English with a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds. Ashley Fisher added 17 points off the bench and Corri Hamilton and Laurel Wichmann rounded out the Columbia players in double figures with 12 and 10, respectively. Lyon was led by Carina Jackson with 20 points.

The Lady Cougars will look to keep their winning streak alive on Thursday, January 9^th when they travel to Williams Baptist (Ark.) College. Game time is set for 5:30 pm in Walnut Ridge, Ark.