Columbia, Mo. – Tonight the 11^th ranked Columbia College women's basketball team was back in action when they hosted Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) University in the quarterfinals of the AMC Championships. The Cougars, who were defeated in their last matchup against the Hornets, were able to stretch their winning streak to four straight games after defeating Harris-Stowe by a final score of 67-52. With the win, Columbia College improves to 26-5 on the season and will advance to the AMC Championship Semifinals on Friday, March 3^rd.

Prior to the game, the AMC announced its Academic All-Conference Awards for the 2016-17 season. In order to be eligible for the award, student athletes must be in their second semester at their AMC institution and have at least a 3.0 GPA. Eleven Cougars were honored with the award including Morgan Brandt, Samantha Cavlovich, Ivana Easley, Nikki Fuemmeler, Grey Hayes, Martha Imoniana, Mai Nienhueser, Hannah Sutton, Alexis Uffmann, Sarah Walters, and Raegan Wieser. In addition to being named Academic All-Conference, Nikki Fuemmeler was also named to the AMC Champions of Character Team.

The Cougars got off to a quick start in the game and were able to knock down their shots early as they jumped out to a 12-2 lead after five minutes of action in the first quarter. Columbia College played great defense in the period and held the Hornets to just 10 points as they took a 21-10 lead into the second. The Cougars continued to push the tempo as the half progressed and were able to grow their lead to as much as 20 with two minutes remaining in the half. The Hornets did their best to get back into the game down the final stretch of the second quarter but ultimately the Cougars would take a 36-18 lead into the halftime break. Columbia College was led by Morgan Brandt who finished with a team high 11 points in the half.

The Hornets came out of the halftime break and were looking to run at the Cougars. They opened the third quarter on a on a 10-7 run and cut the Cougars lead to 15 midway through the period. However, Columbia College was able to settle into their offense as the half progressed and the Cougars held a 53-40 lead heading into the final quarter. The Hornets did their best to make a run at Columbia at the end of the game but the Cougars were able to close them out down the final stretch of the fourth quarter and picked up their 20^th conference victory of the season.

Columbia College was led by Morgan Brandt who finished with a career high 26 points and added 13 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. In addition to Brandt, Ashlee Marlatt finished with 10 points and Alexis Uffmann went for nine points, eight assists, and nine rebounds to round out the top performers for the Cougars.

Columbia College is back in action on Friday, March 3^rd when they travel to Batesville, Arkansas, to take on 10^th ranked Lyon (Ark.) College in the semifinals of the AMC Championships. Columbia College split the season series with the Scots dropping the first game by a final score of 56-70 in Batesville and winning the second game by a final score of 68-67 in Columbia. The game is set to start at 7 p.m.