Box Score Columbia, Mo. - The 12^th-ranked Lady Cougar basketball team returned to action on Thursday night, earning a 63-53 home victory over conference foe Williams Baptist College. With the win, Columbia improves to 19-5 overall on the year and 15-1 in the American Midwest Conference (AMC).

The Lady Cougars got off a slow start to begin the first half and led by just one at 10-9 midway through the opening period. Columbia would eventually find their groove offensively and outscore the Eagles 23-10 over the remainder of the frame to take a 33-19 halftime advantage. Janairrika Bland had nine points and Heather English handed out four assists in the first half for the Lady Cougars, who shot 36 percent from the floor and held Williams Baptist to a 33 percent clip.

The Eagles would battle their way back to start the second period and eventually grab a 41-40 lead on a basket by Cheyenne Childers at the 10:40 mark. That lead would be short-lived as Columbia reeled off a 10-0 run over the next two minutes, capped off with a three-point by Aqua Corpening. Williams Baptist cut the Lady Cougar lead to five with a little over four minutes to play, but Columbia would quickly stretch its lead back out to double digits on a pair of free throws by Bland and three-point play by Petrolina Chilaka to close out the victory.

Bland led three Lady Cougars in double figures with 12 points to go along with 11 points from Corpening and 10 from Chilaka. Columbia also forced the Eagles into 24 turnovers, with English contributing a game-high five steals.

The Lady Cougars will conclude the week on Saturday, February 15^th when they host conference opponent Hannibal-LaGrange University. Columbia rallied from a second half deficit to defeat the Trojans 70-62 on the road back on January 11^th. Tip-off for Saturday's contest is set for 2:00 pm at the Arena of Southwell Complex.