Jackson, Tenn. -- The fourth ranked Columbia College women's basketball team returned to Oman Arena today, as they faced the 12th ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers on the final day of the Jackson Rotary Invitational. This game was a battle of the unbeaten as each team was coming off of Friday victories as well as undefeated seasons. The Cougars gave the Pioneers their first loss of the season as they won by a score of 73-67. The Cougars improve to 6-0 on the season.
The Cougars opened up the game going 3-3 from beyond the arc and then taking a charge on the defensive end for a nice early energy boost. Three minutes in Columbia led 9-2, but the Pioneers were settling in as they tied the game up at 9. In the final 15 seconds the Pioneers hit a three to take a three point lead, but Alexis Uffmann with good situational awareness was left just enough time to hit Hannah Sutton up the court with a long pass, as Sutton would knock down a deep three at the buzzer to tie the game at 16 after one quarter of play. To start off the second, MidAmerica took a 22-18 lead as the Cougars would take a quick timeout. Following the timeout a 4-0 run from Jordan Alford had the game tied at 22. As the second progressed, the contest remained tight, as Columbia led by two with less than five minutes to go before the half. With 3:02 on the clock the Pioneers called timeout as they trailed by two, 28-26. Alford, beating the shot clock, hit from deep to take a 31-29 lead, but MidAmerica answered right back tying it at 31. Next possession, Alford connected with Sarah Walters who took the lead back for Columbia as she drained a three with two minutes before the break. With under a minute on the clock it was tied 35-35, but another three from Alford gave the Cougars the advantage at halftime, 38-35. In the first half, Columbia shot 48 percent from the field, an impressive 73 percent from three, and 75 percent from the line.
Columbia started the third just like they started the first nailing 3-3 from downtown, with shots from Alford, Raegan Wieser, and Brandt. They were showing just how dangerous they can be as each three came from a different Cougar. The three quick daggers, all coming within the first two minutes of the quarter, gave the Cougars a nine point lead, 47-38, and caused an early Pioneer timeout. Columbia called a timeout with 4:25 left in the third as they held a 47-41 lead. With the shot clock running out, Ashlee Marlatt did a great job of drawing defenders to her and then dishing the ball to Walters, who hit her second three of the day. Walters was heating up as she would again knock down from deep the next possession, this time the feed coming from Geena Stephens, making the score 53-46. Heading into the fourth quarter the Cougars were leading by seven, 57-50. The Pioneers cut the lead to six as they called a quick timeout with just under eight left in the game. Out of the timeout, the Pioneers attempted to apply some full court pressure, but Columbia remained calm and took care of the ball. A big three from Marlatt would give the Cougars an eight point lead, 68-60 with about five minutes left. The Pioneers were staying right on Columbia's back as they trailed by four with a little over three to go. MidAmerica called for a timeout with 1:26 on the clock, while the Cougars led 70-64. Out of the timeout, the Pioneers quickly nailed a three cutting the lead to three. Wieser came up with a big defensive rebound with 33 seconds on the clock. Wieser was then fouled immediately and went to the line to sink one of two shots, to take a four point lead. Under 30 seconds left, the Pioneers came rushing up the floor, but Alford was able to snag a steal to put the ball back in Cougar control. Marlatt was sent to the line and sunk both, while following it up with another Columbia steal to secure the 73-67 victory.
The Cougars with another great performance, had five players in double figures. Jordan Alford and Morgan Brandt each had 13 apiece. Alford added four more three pointers to her weekend as she totaled nine in the two contests, as well as handing out three assists today, while Brandt also brought down seven rebounds. In addition, Ashlee Marlatt had 12 points and dished out four assists, as she also tied fourth place all-time in career three-pointers made with 206. To wrap it up, Raegan Wieser chipped in 11 points going 2-3 from three and Sarah Walters added 10 points of her own, shooting a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc. Columbia finished the weekend shooting 43 percent from the field, 58 from three, and 75 from the charity stripe, while have 15 assists.
The women's basketball team returns to Southwell Complex on Tuesday, November 27th when they take on the Harris-Stowe State University Hornets in an AMC contest. The game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.
