Columbia, Mo. – Today the first ranked Columbia College women's basketball team hit the hardwood as they took on the 17th ranked Lyon College Scots in an AMC matchup. Columbia's attention to detail on the defensive end was phenomenal as they outdid the Scots 73-62. The Cougars improve to 26-3 on the season and 20-3 in conference play.
Today's game served as Senior Day for five Cougars. Prior to the game four-year seniors Morgan Brandt, Alexis Uffmann, Hannah Sutton, Ashlee Marlatt, and Sarah Walters were recognized for their outstanding careers in a Cougar uniform. This special group of seniors have exceled on and off the court while at Columbia College. The Cougar fans would like to extend a congratulations to each senior on their accomplished career and a thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.
As the game was underway, a strong defensive start from each team had it tied at four, three minutes in. Midway through the first, Columbia was up 7-4. The Cougars defense was locked in from the tip as they were making things difficult for the Scots. The game remained close throughout the quarter, Columbia up 12-8 with two minutes to play. The Cougars were dictating the tempo in the final minutes, shutting Lyon's offense down as they were scoreless the last three minutes of the first. Columbia held a 15-8 lead after one.
In the second, Lyon cut the score to three, 15-12, as the Cougars now went scoreless for three minutes. Jordan Alford was able to break the silence with a short-corner bucket and Columbia would call the first timeout. The Cougars took a seven point lead and the Scots quickly called time. Columbia was flustering the Scots with their solid defensive communication and the Cougars were able to take a 26-18 lead. However, Lyon was not going to go down easy as they went on a sudden run tying the game at 26 with under a minute before the break. A pair of free throws for the Cougars gave them a two point lead, 28-26 at halftime. In the half, Columbia was able to get seven steals on eight Lyon turnovers and shot 70 percent from the free throw line.
The Cougars went on a 6-0 run to start the third quarter, as Alford threw a dime to Mai Nienhueser who finished at the rim, causing an immediate Lyon timeout. Back to back threes from the Scots made it a four point game with 6:15 on the clock, but Raegan Wieser answered with a triple of her own making it 39-32. The Scots continued to connect from beyond the arc, while Columbia called a timeout, leading 41-39. The Cougars stayed patient on offense, adjusting well to what Lyon was throwing at them. Lyon stayed on Columbia's tail, trailing by four as the quarter progressed. Heading into the final quarter, the Cougars had a one point lead, 46-45.
Each team went back and forth in the beginning of the fourth, tied at 51 two minutes in. Columbia stole the momentum with a 9-0 run including threes from Wieser and Morgan Brandt, and a big three-point conversion from Nienhueser. With just under seven to play, the Scots called a timeout hoping to slow down the Cougars. Columbia kept a steady composure leading 66-57 with less than three minutes to go. Lyon was not giving up as they trailed by eight 68-60. Another trey from Wieser made the score 71-62 as the game was nearing an end. In the final minutes the Scots were forced to foul and the Cougars took a 10 point lead. Columbia solidified the senior day victory with a final score of 73-62.
The Cougars hustle was far from unnoticed this afternoon. Four players hit double digits including Morgan Brandt who had 19 points, going 2-3 from three, and had eight boards, Raegan Wieser had 16 points, going 3-4 from deep, with two rebounds and two assists, Mai Nienhueser chipped in 13 points and Jordan Alford added 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Brandt's 19 points moved her into 7th place all-time in scoring as she has 1,335 points. Alford's five assists puts her in 11th place all-time in assists with 214, and Wieser's two assists hits 100 for her career.
The women's basketball team travels to St. Louis, Missouri to take on the Missouri Baptist University Spartans on Thursday, February 21st for their last regular-season game in AMC play. The game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.
