Women's Basketball | 12/6/2016 2:57:00 PM

Columbia, Mo. – This afternoon the NAIA announced its first 2016-17 D1 Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll of the regular season. The Cougars, who were ranked 20^th in the preseason poll, moved up seven spots to 13^th after starting the season 8-1.

Columbia College has been playing great basketball so far this season and have defeated two top 25 opponents including sixth ranked Vanguard (Calif.) University in the Jackson Rotary Invitational. The Cougars currently rank in the top 10 nationally in free throw percentage (0.766), turnover margin (9.667), scoring margin (24.889), scoring defense per game (52.333), steals per game (13.333), three point field goal percentage defense (0.244), and three point field goals made per game (8.222).

Tomorrow night the Cougars will continue their tough schedule to open their season when they take on 12^th ranked Baker (Kan.) University in a non-conference matchup. Columbia College will look to avenge last year's loss to the Wildcats in the national tournament that ended the Cougars season in the first round. Last year's NAIA runner-up, comes into this game with an overall record of 8-1 on the season and are led by Kelsey Larson who is currently averaging 12.44 points per game.

The game is set to tip-off at 7 p.m. in the Southwell Complex.