Independence, Mo. – The No. 3 seeded Columbia Women's basketball team saw their season come to an end today as they fell to No. 6 seed Baker University 80-71 in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament. Columbia finishes the year with an overall record of 27-6, while the Wildcats, improve to 25-8 and will face Shawnee State (Ohio) in the second round of the tournament on Friday.

The Wildcats raced out to a 15-4 lead in the first quarter with the help of back-to-back threes by Kelsey Larson. The Cougars outscored Baker 10-2 over the next six minutes of play, cutting the deficit to three at 17-14 as the first quarter of play came to a close.

After trading points, the Wildcats stretched their lead to eight at 25-17 to begin the second quarter, but the Cougars came clawing back and used five straight points to pull back within three at 25-22. Columbia would eventually knot the game at 27 after buckets by Petrolina Chilaka and Kei'yana Pearson before going ahead 29-27 on two made free throws by Morgan Brandt. The lead changed hands four different times from there, but the Cougars would carry a 38-35 advantage into the halftime break after a last second layup by Corri Hamilton.

The Cougars shot just 36 percent from the field in the first half compared to 50 percent by the Wildcats. Baker also outrebounded Columbia 25-18.

Baker's Jami Hodge and Chilaka traded threes to begin the third quarter to make the score 41-38. Sydney Buchel and Hodge scored back-to-back threes allowing the Wildcats to grab a 46-43 advantage over the Cougars. With Baker ahead, Caprese Marshall snuck behind to steal the ball away from the Wildcats, drove in and was able to convert the three point play to pull the Cougars within one at 48-47. Another three by Chilaka at the 3:12 mark tied the game up at 50, but Baker used a 5-2 run which included a three by Kelsey Larson to go ahead 55-52. However, Columbia would close out the third quarter with six straight points to hold a 58-55 advantage headed into the last frame.

Hodge knocked down a three to begin the fourth quarter, tying the game at 58 and would again knot the score at 60 after trading baskets. Ericka Simpson hit a three to put the Cats ahead, but Ashlee Marlatt raced down the floor to drain a three of her own, tying the game back up at 63.

After trading baskets, Kelsey Larson hit a three to give the Wildcats a 68-65 advantage. A Baker foul sent Hamilton to the line where she made 2-of-2 free throws, but the Wildcats would also draw a foul and make both free throws giving them a 70-67 lead. Hamilton hit a short jumper to cut the deficit to one with 1:58 left to play, but another three by the Cats would make the score 73-69. With the clock winding down, the Cougars worked hard to find the basket, but Baker would use a wide open layup and two made free throws to extend their lead to eight at 77-69 with 46.3 second left in the game.

Columbia couldn't come back from there as the Wildcats held on for the 80-71 victory, knocking the Cougars out of the tournament.

The Cougars shot poorly, finishing with a 37 percent clip and were outrebounded 46-34. The Wildcats also proved why they are the number one team in the country in blocks and blocks per game as the squad finished with 10 total. Chilaka led Columbia with 18 points while Pearson and Hamilton chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Hodge led all players with 30 points and Larson finished with 19 points. Macy Wallisch pulled down a game high 16 rebounds and recorded six blocks for the Wildcats.