St. Louis, Mo. – This afternoon the 18th ranked Columbia College women's basketball team was back on the court when they traveled to St. Louis, Missouri to take on the Missouri Baptist University Spartans in an AMC matchup. The Cougars won their seventh straight game as they defeated the Spartans by a final score of 76-46. With the win, Columbia improved to 13-5 on the season and 11-1 in conference play.

The Spartans took the early 4-0 lead over the Cougars. Columbia was struggling to find their rhythm as the first quarter progressed. With just under four minutes to go in the first, the Cougars found themselves trailing 5-12. Columbia causing some Spartan turnovers was able to use a 6-0 run to come within one point as the Spartans led 12-11 at the end of the first quarter.

Coming into the second quarter, Columbia was looking to clean it up and really settle in. The Cougars were able to take their first lead of the game as they went up 13-12, however Missouri Baptist would quickly answer back with a bucket of their own. As the quarter continued, the game was kept close. The Cougars went on a 7-0 run to take a 23-20 lead with four and half minutes to go. Columbia began to seize the momentum as they were able to grab a little space from the Spartans, leading 33-26 at halftime. Columbia was shooting 78 percent from the line, as well as creating 14 Spartan turnovers in the half. The Cougars had 13 first half offensive rebounds, while holding Missouri Baptist to just one offensive rebound.

Columbia came out of the break causing a quick Spartan turnover, but Missouri Baptist went on a 7-3 run to cut their deficit to three in the first two and a half minutes of the third. Raegan Wieser would hit back to back threes to put the Cougars lead back up to nine. After a few minutes of neither team being able to find a bucket, the Spartans went on a 4-0 run to cut the Cougar lead 44-40 with under two minutes to go. To end the third quarter, Columbia was able to push their lead to seven as they led 47-40 heading into the fourth quarter.

Jordan Alford knocked down a big three less than 20 seconds into the final quarter of play to give the Cougars a 10 point lead. The quick three from Alford propelled the Cougars on a 10-2 run to go up 57-42 in just the first two minutes of the fourth. Columbia quickly extended their lead to 24 points as they really took control on both ends of the court. A key to the Cougars success today was their ability to maintain their composure throughout the contest. Missouri Baptist continued to fight, but there was no turning back for the Cougars as they held the Spartans to just six points in the final quarter. Columbia solidified a 76-46 victory.

For the Cougars, Mai Nienhueser recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Also recording double-digit points were Morgan Brandt (14), Raegan Wieser (14), and Jordan Alford (13). In addition, Brandt and Alford each dished out five assists, while also snagging seven rebounds apiece.

Columbia College is back in action on Thursday, January 18th when they travel to St. Louis, Missouri to take on St. Louis College of Pharmacy in an AMC matchup. The game is set to tip-off at 5:30 p.m.