Box Score Olathe, Kan. – The 16^th-ranked Columbia College women's basketball team defeated No. 10 MidAmerica Nazarene University by a score of 69-58 this evening, picking up their tenth straight victory dating back to Nov. 6^th. The Cougars are now 10-0 on the season while the Pioneers fall to 5-2 overall with the loss.

After one quarter of play the Cougars led 18-15 and would carry a 32-27 advantage into the halftime break. Columbia shot 48 percent from the field and were led by Corri Hamilton and Ashlee Marlatt with eight points apiece. Columbia also outrebounded the home team 20-17 while holding the Pioneers to a 34 percent clip.

The Cougars maintained their advantage in the third quarter and extended their lead to 12 with an 8-0 run, making the score 49-37. The Pioneers answered back with five straight points to cut the deficit to seven at 49-42 to end the third quarter. Columbia continued to lead in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Pioneers 20-16 to pick up the 69-58 victory.

Columbia shot 47 percent while limiting the Pioneers to 34 percent shooting from the field. Five Cougars ended in double digits with Petrolina Chilaka leading all players with 15 points. Hamilton finished with 14 points and eight rebounds while Marlatt and Kei'yana Pearson chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively. Brittany Yost also posted double digit points with 10 while Caprese Marshall handed out a game high four assists.

The Cougars are ranked No. 16 in the first regular-season installment of the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The second regular-season edition will be released on Jan. 5. Columbia received 111 points and one of the nine first place votes.
Vanguard received eight of the nine possible first-place votes and 219 total points en route to its 41st all-time No. 1 ranking. Previously, the Lions most recent top billing came on March 12, 2014. Westmont, Montana State-Northern, Campbellsville, and Bethel round out the top five.

The Cougars return to action Saturday, December 12^th when they travel to Hannibal, Mo. to take on conference opponent Hannibal-LaGrange University. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.