Columbia, Mo. – Prior to the game the third NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll was announced and the Cougars remained second in the nation behind Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.). Tonight Columbia headed to Point Lookout, Missouri to face the College of the Ozarks Bobcats in a nonconference matchup. The Cougars were looking to even the scoreboard as they had dropped to the Bobcats in the team's first ever meeting last season. Columbia was able to avenge their loss with a 77-67 victory over the Bobcats. The Cougars now improve to 15-2 on the season.
It was a slow start for both teams as the game was just 2-2 after three minutes of play. No real scoring happened until after midway through the quarter when the Cougars went on a run to take a 9-2 lead, but the Bobcats came right back tying the game at 9 with 1:35 left in the first. The Bobcats took a two point lead as Columbia called the first timeout with just over a minute before the end of the quarter. At the end of one, the Cougars trailed 14-9.
College of the Ozarks run continued into the second as they led 20-13 about four minutes in. A quick 5-0 run from Ashlee Marlatt cut the score to 21-18. Jordan Alford snagged a steal and layup to cut it to three with just over three minutes before the break. The steal would put her at 110 career steals, tying 17th all-time. The Cougars were able to tie the game at 25 and regain the ball as they drew a foul and hit both free throws taking a 27-25 lead, however in the final five seconds the Bobcats would nail a three at the buzzer to take a one point lead at halftime, 28-27. Alford led all scorers with 11 points, while she and Morgan Brandt each had five rebounds.
Columbia came out of the locker room and began to pick it up as they went on a quick 5-0 run, including a perfect skip pass from Alford to find Marlatt in the corner to knock down her 221st three-pointer, which ties second place all-time in career three-pointers made in the women's program. The Columbia run continued as they went up 37-29 in the third. The Bobcats were not fading away as they cut the Cougar lead to three points, 37-34, midway through the quarter. A great extra pass from Brandt connected with Marlatt who again would hit from beyond the arc, this time taking over sole possession of second place all-time in career three-pointers made. After the trey, Columbia was up 44-36 with under four remaining in the quarter. The Cougars held onto their lead heading into the fourth with a score of 51-45.
Back to back threes from the Cougars, making the score 57-45, forced a timeout by the Bobcats less than a minute into the fourth quarter. With five minutes left in the game, College of the Ozarks cut their deficit to five points, 65-60, and called for another timeout. Following the timeout, the Cougars were able to keep their space as they were ahead by 10, 72-62, with three minutes to play. Columbia closed the game out 77-67 to secure the road win.
The Cougars finished strong shooting 48 percent from the field, 44 from three, and 78 from the charity stripe. There were four players in double-digits including Raegan Wieser who had 21 points, going 3-6 from three, five rebounds, and three assists, Jordan Alford recorded 19 points and a season high nine rebounds, while Ashlee Marlatt had a season high 18 points, going 4-6 from three, and Morgan Brandt chipped in 10 points and snagged nine rebounds on the night.
The women's basketball team travels down the street on Thursday, January 17th to take on the Stephens College (Mo.) Stars in an AMC matchup. The game will tip-off at 7:00 p.m.
