Box Score Henderson, Tenn. – The fourth ranked Columbia College women's basketball team traveled to Henderson, Tennessee this afternoon to go to battle against the reigning National Champions, the second ranked Freed-Hardeman University Lions in the AMC Game of the Week. This is Columbia's second Top Five matchup in program history, as the first came earlier this season when the Cougars beat then third ranked Campbellsville University. In a hard fought battle, Columbia dropped to the Lions 70-63. The Cougars move to 9-2 on the season and 5-2 in conference play.
As the game was underway, the Lions took the early 6-2 lead, while the Cougars were working on settling in. Columbia called a quick timeout after three minutes of play. Following the timeout, the Cougars were able to grab a few steals, and a bomb from Jordan Alford would cut the score 8-7. Strong drives and finishes gave Columbia the lead 11-8 as the Lions now wanted a timeout with three and a half to go in the first. With 30 seconds to go, Freed tied the game at 13. Ukari McKinney was able to earn a trip to the line in the final seconds where she sunk one of two, taking a one point lead, 14-13, after one quarter of play.
The second quarter was back and forth as neither team could gain any space from the other. With the game tied at 19, the Cougars went on a 4-0 run, including a baseline pass from Ashlee Marlatt to Raegan Wieser who knocked it down from the corner to give Columbia a 23-19 lead and cause another Freed timeout at the 6:30 mark. Out of the timeout, the Lions would hit two free throws, but Wieser would connect with Morgan Brandt for three to answer back making it 26-21. The Lions weren't going anywhere as the score was 28-26, however Alexis Uffmann grabbed a defensive rebound and made a great push up the floor setting Sarah Walters up as she hit from beyond the arc taking a five point lead for the third time this quarter, 31-26. Freed went on a 5-0 run in the last two and a half minutes to knot the game at 31 at the half.
To start the third quarter, the Lions went on a 6-0 run taking a 37-31 lead. The Cougars were finally able to stop the run as Brandt completed a three point play, cutting the lead to three about two and a half minutes in. As the third continued, the Lions were able to hold the lead 44-38. Columbia was not backing down as they went on a 4-0 run to trail by two points. Freed finished a three point play to take back some space, 47-42, but Geena Stephens answered back with her own 'and one' conversion making it a two point game. With 1:35, Columbia tied the game again at 47 each. Two more trips to the line gave the Cougars the lead 51-49 going into the fourth quarter.
As the final quarter began, it was going to be a fight to the very end. With 5:50 remaining the Lions tied the game 55-55. Over the next few possessions, the teams stayed neck and neck. Columbia trailed 61-58 with just over three minutes to go, as they called time. The Cougars were playing with a sense of urgency in the final two minutes as they called another timeout down by four. With 22.8 left, Columbia was down by five and timeout was called. In the end, the Cougars had to foul and would fall to the Lions 70-63.
Morgan Brandt had 17 points and five rebounds, Jordan Alford recorded 13 points and six rebounds, and Mai Nienhueser also hit double-digits with 11. Sarah Walters and Raegan Wieser also brought down five rebounds each, while Alexis Uffmann reached her 200th career assist, making her the 12th Cougar to do so.
The women's basketball team will return to Southwell Complex on December 31st when they take on Central Christian College of the Bible in a nonconference matchup. The game will tip-off at 12 p.m.
