Columbia, Mo. – The second ranked Columbia College women's basketball team took the court this evening as they hosted the Missouri Baptist University Spartans in an AMC contest. Columbia defeated the Spartans by a final score of 81-69. The Cougars improve to 14-2 on the season and 9-2 in conference play.
The Spartans took a quick 5-0 lead to start as the Cougars were still settling in. The Cougars found themselves trailing 9-4, but back to back threes from Raegan Wieser and Ashlee Marlatt gave Columbia the lead 10-9 five minutes in as Missouri Baptist called the first timeout of the game. Two steals in a row by Marlatt gave the Cougars some needed energy as Columbia was up by three, 14-11. With under a minute in the first, the Spartans tied the game at 16. The Spartans were able to take the two point advantage at the end of one, 18-16.
Coming into the second, Columbia was looking to regroup and clean things up on both ends of the court. The Cougars would cut the score to one, two different times in the first two minutes of the second. Another three from Marlatt put the Cougars up 24-22, causing another Missouri Baptist timeout. Six minutes before the break the game was tied again at 27. With the game tied at 29, the Spartans began to apply a bit of full court pressure. Three triples from Jordan Alford put the Cougars up 40-31 with just over two minutes before the half. Alford connected with Wieser who gave her defender a shot fake and took a step to her left to knock in a three at the buzzer to hold a 43-36 lead at halftime. Alford led all scorers with 14, going 4-6 from beyond the arc, while Marlatt had five assists in the half.
To start the third quarter the Cougars went on a 7-0 run taking a 50-36 lead. After over three minutes in, the Spartans were able to get their first bucket of the half. Midway through the quarter Columbia wanted a timeout as they led 54-43. The Spartans were able to get the deficit to single digits with a pair of free throws, however Grey Hayes was able to shake her defender and hit a three to give the Cougars the 10 point lead back, 59-49. Heading into the final quarter, Columbia was up 62-51.
About three minutes into the fourth the Spartans cut the lead to nine, but the Cougars answered back quickly going on a 5-0 run to lead 69-55 as Missouri Baptist called for a timeout. Ukari McKinney, with a strong 'and-one' completion, pushed the score 72-55. The Spartans were again putting on some full court pressure in hopes of rattling Columbia, however the Cougars would keep their distance holding a 20 point lead with under three to play. Columbia rolled on to victory 81-69. The Cougars finished shooting 53 percent from the field, 50 from three, and dished out 20 assists.
Ashlee Marlatt recorded a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 assists on the night, along with four steals. The Cougars had four other players in double digits, including Jordan Alford who had 19 points, going 5-7 from three, six rebounds, and four assists, Raegan Wieser had 15 points, going 3-4 from three, Geena Stephens added 12 points, and Morgan Brandt had 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists. With her three assists, Brandt moved into 10th place all-time in career assists with 208.
The women's basketball team travels to Point Lookout, Missouri to take on the College of the Ozarks Bobcats in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday, January 15th. The game will tip-off at 6:00 p.m.
