Columbia, Mo. – Today the second ranked Columbia College women's basketball team hosted the Lindenwood University-Belleville Lynx in an AMC contest. Columbia secured a 69-58 victory over the Lynx to make this the 11th consecutive season that the Cougars have reached 20 wins. The Cougars improve to 20-2 on the season and 14-2 in conference play.
Prior to the game, seniors Morgan Brandt, Alexis Uffmann, Hannah Sutton, Ashlee Marlatt, and Sarah Walters were recognized for their outstanding accomplishment of reaching 100 career-wins in a Cougar uniform as they are now members of the Columbia College Century Club.
There was a bit of a drought in Southwell as four minutes had gone by and neither team had scored a bucket yet. A pair of free throws for the Lynx finally put some numbers on the board. As the Lynx took a 5-0 lead, Columbia called the first timeout over midway through the first. Jordan Alford was able to open the gates for the Cougars with a nice take to the basket, followed by back to back threes from Raegan Wieser. After one quarter of play and a slow start offensively for Columbia, they were able to hold a one point advantage, 15-14.
Each team exchanged baskets to start the second quarter as it was tied at 19 about three minutes in. Over the next few possessions the Lynx were able to take a three point lead and would call their first timeout. With about a minute to play before the half, the Cougars trailed 35-28. Alford connected with Sarah Walters who hit a big three to put Columbia down by four, 35-31, at halftime.
The Cougars went on a 4-0 run to tie the game at 35 a minute and a half into the third quarter. Columbia took a 40-37 lead and caused a Lynx timeout at the seven minute mark. Following the timeout, Brandt continued to show her power on the boards as she snagged an offensive rebound, allowing Alford another look as she knocked in a three to take a 43-37 lead. Columbia was beginning to show some more energy as Marlatt threw a dime to Mai Nienhueser who finished the play. Nienhueser would return the favor to Marlatt who put the Cougars up by 10 with under five remaining in the third. Walters banged her third trey of the day to keep Columbia's double-digit lead, 52-41. As the third quarter played out the Cougars were up 55-44 going into the final quarter.
With under six and a half to play, the Lynx cut the deficit to single digits, 58-51, however Columbia took a charge on defense to get the ball right back in their hands as they went on a quick 4-0 run to hold a 62-51 lead. The Lynx took a timeout, trailing by 11, with less than five minutes left. They then hit a three cutting the Cougar lead 66-58 and causing a quick Columbia timeout with about two minutes to go. In the final minutes Columbia's defense held off the Lynx, while Brandt doing one of the things she excels at, came up with two more rebounds which now makes her the all-time career rebounding leader in Columbia College women's basketball history with 891 rebounds. The Cougars secured a 69-58 win as they finished shooting 43 percent from the field, 47 from three, and 78 from the line, while having nine steals on 18 Lynx turnovers, resulting in 24 points off of turnovers.
Four Cougars were in double figures including Morgan Brandt who had 14 points and seven rebounds, Sarah Walters dropped a season high 12 points, going 3-4 from three and had four rebounds, while Ashlee Marlatt recorded 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Raegan Wieser chipped in 10 points and four rebounds. In addition, Jordan Alford had nine points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Marlatt also had two steals which ties her for fifth place all-time career steals with 230.
The women's basketball team returns to Southwell Complex on Thursday, January 31st when they take on the Williams Baptist University Eagles in an AMC matchup. The game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.
