Columbia, Mo. – Tonight the second ranked Columbia College women's basketball team hosted the Williams Baptist University Eagles in an AMC contest. Columbia swooped to victory over the Eagles 90-60. The Cougars improve to 21-2 on the season and 15-2 in conference play.
The Cougars came out focused and ready to go as they went on a 9-0 run in the first two minutes. Over a minute and a half went by with no scoring from either team, until Columbia hit another bucket to make it an 11-0 run. Midway through the first, the Eagles were finally able to find a basket to get on the board. The Eagles called for a timeout as the Cougars took a 20-3 lead with less than two minutes to go in the first quarter. After one, Columbia led 21-5.
In the second, the Cougars continued to not let the Eagles get into any sort of rhythm as they were up 28-9 about three minutes in. The second quarter continued and Columbia fell into a little bit of a lull, but remained ahead 34-15. As the Cougars headed to the locker room to regroup, they led 42-20. Columbia was shooting 50 percent from the field and 47 from beyond the arc.
The Cougars came out with some new found energy and went on a 9-0 run in the first minute and a half, forcing an Eagle timeout. As the third played out, Columbia took a 30 point lead, 60-35. The Eagles scored a quick few buckets as they trailed 60-42. With the Eagles late push, they cut the deficit to 15 points, 60-45, heading into the final quarter.
Columbia started the fourth quarter with back to back threes, pushing the lead to almost 20. The Cougars were in the zone from beyond the arc as they hit their next three triples in a row, making them 5-5 from deep in the fourth. Mai Nienhueser found Raegan Wieser on the block, as Wieser took it up strong and earned her 1,000th career point as a Cougar. Wieser then knocked down a three, making the Cougars 7-7 in the quarter, while they held an 83-53 lead. Columbia continued to share the ball well as the game was winding down. The Cougars went an impressive 8-8 from beyond the arc in the final quarter and secured a 90-60 victory. Columbia had 29 assists on the night, while shooting 52 percent from the field and 62 from deep.
Five Cougars were in double figures tonight. Morgan Brandt had 18 points, going 3-4 from three and had eight boards, Jordan Alford had 17 points, going 5-7 from three, a career-high nine assists, eight rebounds, and five steals, Ashlee Marlatt recorded 14 points, going 4-7 from three and had five assists, Mai Nienhueser had 13 points, three assists, and three rebounds, while Raegan Wieser chipped in 12 points, going 2-3 from three, with four assists and six rebounds. In addition, Hannah Sutton tied her season high with eight points, going 2-2 from three, while Alexis Uffmann and Sarah Walters each dished out three assists as well. Brandt's 18 points move her into 8th place all-time in scoring with 1,250 points. Alford's career-high nine assists makes her the 14th Cougar to join the all-time assists leader list with 201. Marlatt also took over 5th place on the all-time steals list as she currently has 231.
The women's basketball team returns to Southwell Complex on Saturday, February 2nd when they take on the number one ranked Freed-Hardeman University Lions in the AMC Game of the Week. The top ranked showdown will tip-off at 1:00 p.m.
