Columbia, Mo. – This evening the 8th ranked Columbia College women's basketball team was back on the court when they hosted the Park University (Mo.) Pirates in an AMC matchup. The Cougars cruised to victory defeating the Pirates by a final score of 88-48. Columbia improves to 22-5 on the season and 20-1 in conference play.

Today the NAIA national office announced the fifth NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 poll of the 2017-18 season. The Cougars, who ranked 10th in the previous poll, moved up two spots to 8th after going 4-0, including a 61-43 victory over previously number one ranked Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.).

As the Cougars were settling in, the first quarter was kept close to start out as Columbia led 11-7 about midway through. In the remainder of the first, the Cougars would use a 13-0 run to lead 24-7 after one. In the midst of their run, junior Ashlee Marlatt knocked down a three to achieve her 1,000^th point of her career.

The Cougars were cruising on offense as the half continued. On the defensive end, Columbia was communicating well as they were making things difficult for the Pirates. At the half, the Cougars led 48-17, shooting 45 percent from the field, 57 percent from beyond the arc, and 71 percent from the line.

Columbia was not settling as they went on a 13-2 run to lead 61-22 in the third quarter. The Cougars continued to dominate on both ends of the floor as they led 71-34 with one quarter remaining. Nothing could disrupt Columbia as they continued to set their shooters up nicely as well as taking advantage in the paint. The Cougars won their 16^th straight game with an 88-48 victory.

Columbia took care of business tonight as every Cougar was in the scoring column. Four Cougars were in double digits including Alexis Uffmann (14), Morgan Brandt (12), Ukari McKinney (11), and Ashlee Marlatt (10). In addition to reaching the 1,000 point milestone, Marlatt also tied her career high in assists with seven, while Brandt pulled down nine rebounds totaling 661 in her career to pass former Cougar Ashley Fisher (654) on the career rebounds list as Brandt now sits seventh all time at Columbia.  

Columbia College is back in action on Thursday, February 15^th when they travel to Batesville, Arkansas to take on the 18^th ranked Lyon College Scots in an AMC matchup. The game is set to tip-off at 5:30 p.m.