Box Score Jackson, Tenn. – This afternoon the 16th ranked Columbia College women's basketball team was back in action when they traveled to Jackson, Tennessee, to take on fifth ranked Shawnee State (Ohio) University in their first game of the 2017 Jackson Rotary Invitational. The Cougars were defeated by the Bears by a final score of 91-55 and fell to 4-2 on the season.
Shawnee State came out in the first half and jumped out to an early 16-8 lead over the Cougars in the first six minutes of the game. Columbia College battled back and were able to score the next two baskets to cut the Bears lead to four but an 11-4 run from Shawnee State to end the first quarter gave them a 27-16 lead to start the second. The Cougars continued to struggle in the second quarter and the Bears were able to push their lead to 19 late in the period. Columbia College made a late 5-2 run to end the half but Shawnee State held a 43-27 lead at the break. Raegan Wieser led the way for Columbia as she had a team high nine points.
The Cougars came out in the second half and knocked down a quick three pointer to cut the Bears lead to 13 early in the period but a 13-0 run from Shawnee State extended their lead to 26 with just over seven minutes to play in the third. Columbia College did their best to get back into the game but the Bears were too much to handle defensively as they forced the Cougars to take tough shots throughout the third and took a 38 point lead into the final quarter. Columbia College shot the ball better in the fourth outscoring the Bears 18-16 but Shawnee State was able to close out the game to hand the Cougars their second loss of the season.
Columbia College went 19-70 from the field in the game and were held to just 4-25 from behind the arc. They were led by Mai Nienhueser who finished with a team high 10 points in the contest.
The Cougars are back in action tomorrow, November 25th when they continue play in the 2017 Jackson Rotary Invitational against fourth ranked Vanguard (Calif.) University. The game is set to tip-off at 12 p.m.
