Columbia, Mo. - The 8^th-ranked Cougar women's basketball team returned to action Saturday afternoon, earning a 80-59 victory over conference foe Williams Baptist College at Southwell Complex to remain perfect on the season. With the win, Columbia improves to 16-0 overall and 9-0 in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) while the Eagles fall to 8-6 on the year and 3-6 in league play. The Cougars also improve to 31-1 all-time against the Eagles.

Columbia led 27-17 after one quarter of play and would carry a 45-34 advantage into the halftime break. The Cougars shot 50 percent from the field while limiting the Eagles to a 43 percent clip. Senior Corri Hamilton led all players with 16 points on six-of-six shooting from the field and 4-of-4 shooting from the charity stripe. Hamilton also pulled down eight rebounds to help Columbia finish the half with a 21-14 advantage on the boards.

An Ashlee Marlatt three sparked a 10-2 run in the third quarter to extend the Cougar lead to 19 at 55-36. The Eagles worked to cut the deficit from there with seven straight points, but Columbia outscored the visitors 5-2 over the next three minutes to go ahead 60-45 with 30 minutes gone from the game.

A 5-0 run by the Eagles to begin the fourth quarter pulled them within 10, but that would be the closest that they would come as Columbia outscored the Eagles 20-9 over the final eight minutes of play to run away with the 80-59 win.

The Cougars finished shooting 43 percent from the field while holding the Eagles to 42 percent shooting. Columbia also ended shooting 95 percent (19/20) from the free throw line. Hamilton finished with her third double-double of the season and a season-high 23 points and 10 rebounds. Marlatt and Petrolina Chilaka also finished in double-digits with 19 and 13 points, respectively.

The Cougars will look to keep their winning streak alive on Thursday, January 14^th when they travel to Park University. Game time is set for 5:30 pm in Parkville, Mo.