Henderson, Tenn. – The 20
th-ranked Cougar women's basketball team fell to second-ranked Freed-Hardeman University 89-78 Saturday afternoon. With the loss, Columbia drops to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the American Midwest Conference (AMC). The Lions improve to 9-1 (4-0 AMC).
The Cougars jumped out to an early 6-2 lead in the first half as
Ashley Fisher and
Aqua Corpening knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the opening minutes. From there both squads would tie the game at 11 and 14, but the Lions would use a 10-0 run to grab their largest lead of the half at 29-13. Columbia, trailing by 13, used a 14-3 run in the final four minutes to pull within two at 39-37 heading into the halftime break.
Columbia came out on fire to begin the second half as they hit back-to-back 3-pointers in their first two possessions. From there, the Cougars would use a 12-2 run to stretch their lead out to six with 15:56 left to play. The Lions responded with a 3-pointer, and the two teams traded baskets including two threes from Columbia's
Kei'yana Pearson. The Cougars led 58-53 with 12:00 to play, but the Lions scored on seven of their next eight possessions to give them the 70-62 advantage. With 2:21 left to play, Corpening drained a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to four, but Freed-Hardeman outscored the Cougars 11-4 to end the game and pick up the victory.
Corpening finished with 20 points to lead the Cougars.
Corri Hamilton added 15 points while
Amber Percival ended with 11 points. Pearson and
Ashley Fisher chipped in 10 points apiece. Hamilton also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Columbia shot 42 percent from the field, a season-high 52 percent from beyond the arc and 75 percent from the free-throw line. The Cougars and Lions finished with 33 rebounds apiece.
Hayley Newby led all scorers with 26 points and Grace Alonso de Armino grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out five assists for the Lady Lions.
The Cougars will return home to host MidAmerica Nazarene University on Tuesday, December 9
th. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm at the Arena of Southwell Complex.