Batesville, Ark. – The Women's Cougar basketball team dropped a close 64-61 road contest at conference foe Lyon College on Thursday night. Columbia, the 20^th-ranked team in the NAIA Postseason Top 25 Poll, falls to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in American Midwest Conference (AMC) play with the win, while the Scots improve to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in league play.

Despite tying the game four different times, Columbia was unable to take the lead throughout the first half, as they trailed 32-30 at the halftime break. Columbia shot 39 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range in the first period but also committed 11 turnovers, while the Scots connected on 13 of 32 attempts (41 percent). Amber Percival led the Cougars with nine points at the break.

The Cougars kept things close to begin the second half and trailed 46-43 after a bucket by Aqua Corpening at the 9:56 mark. Lyon would respond with an 8-0 run to stretch their lead out to 11. The Cougars cut the deficit, and eventually tied the game at 59 with 2:06 left in the game. The Scots took the next four points, but Ashley Fisher would make it 63-61 after a shot in the paint with 27 seconds remaining. With little time remaining, a Cougar foul would send Elliot Taylor to the free throw line where she put the game away by making one of two attempts for a 64-61 victory.

The Cougars hit 20 of 55 attempts (36 percent) from the field on the night and had four players in double figures, led by 17 points and nine assists from Ashley Fisher. Amber Percival finished with 12 points, while Tierney Seifert and Aqua Corpening added 11 and 10 respectively. Carina Jackson led Lyon with 17 points, who shot 39 percent (24 of 62) on the night.

Columbia will be back in action at 2^nd ranked, AMC opponent, Freed-Hardeman University on Saturday, December 6^th. Game time is set for 2:00 pm in Henderson, Tenn.