Columbia, Mo. - The women's Cougar basketball team defeated American Midwest Conference (AMC) opponent Park University 71-51 on Tuesday night at the Arena of Southwell Complex to claim their sixth straight victory. Columbia, ranked 23^rd in the latest edition of the NAIA Women's Basketball Top 25 Poll, improves to 10-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play with the win while the Pirates fall to 4-6 on the season and 3-4 in AMC play.

The Cougars got off a slow start to begin the first half and led by just one at 12-11 midway through the opening period. Columbia would eventually find their groove offensively over the next four minutes as they outscored the Pirates 10-1 to gain some separation. However, Park outscored the Cougars 13-8 over the next six minutes to cut the deficit to five as Columbia took the 30-25 advantage into the locker room. Tierney Seifert had nine points and Caprese Marshall handed out four assists in the first half for the Cougars, who shot 37 percent from the floor and held Park to a 27 percent clip.

Park pulled within three at 33-30 as they used a 5-3 run to begin the second half, but the Cougars responded with 16 unanswered points as they stretched their lead out to 16 midway through the second half at 53-37. Columbia maintained a double-digit lead as they outscored the Pirates 18-14 over the next ten minutes to put the game away.

Columbia hit 23 of 60 attempts from the floor to finish at 38 percent for the game. Kayla Washington led the way for the Cougars with a season-high 16 points on the night, with Corri Hamilton and Seifert adding 14 and 12 points respectively. Amber Percival also finished in double digits with 10 points. Fisher matched a career high 11 rebounds and Marshall dished out a game-high seven assists.

In Tuesday's latest release of the NAIA Women's Basketball Top 25 Poll, the Cougars returned to the top 25 to No. 23 following an undefeated few weeks that included conference wins over Lindenwood University-Belleville and Harris-Stowe State University and wins over then No. 15 MidAmerica Nazarene and No. 22 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.). Fellow American Midwest Conference member school Freed-Hardeman University (13-1, 8-0 AMC) maintained their spot at No. 1 for the second-straight edition. The Lady Lions received nine first-place votes and 250 total points in the second regular-season edition. AMC member Lyon College checked in at No 20, up three spots from the first poll.

Columbia will return to the hardwood for a conference tilt with Stephens College on Thursday, January 8^th. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm at the Arena of Southwell Complex.