Billings, Mont. – This evening the first seeded Columbia College women's basketball team took the court in Billings, Montana under the bright lights to take on the eighth seeded Clarke University (Iowa) Pride, from the Heart of America Athletic Conference, in the First Round of the 39th Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship presented by Visit Billings. The Cougars had a great start, but in the end Columbia fell 62-59. The Cougars finished their season 29-5.
A minute and a half in the Cougars got on the board first with two free throws. Columbia started the game strong on the defensive end as they held Clarke to just two points with less than four minutes to play in the first, the Cougars were up 11-2. As the Cougars took a 10 point lead, Clarke called the first timeout. After a very composed first quarter, Columbia led 15-5.
The first two minutes of the second were scoreless, until again the Cougars would score first. Still up by 10, Columbia called a quick timeout. Clarke was struggling to get anything going as the Cougars were in total control. Back to back threes from Jordan Alford put Columbia up 27-7 over midway through the second, and forced another Clarke timeout. Out of the timeout, Clarke scored two quick buckets. Columbia put a stop to the Clarke 6-0 run as they grabbed a steal and layup at the other end, leading 29-13. Clarke settled in more throughout the second, but the Cougars remained on top at the half, 33-17. Columbia was shooting 45 percent from the field and 38 from three, while grabbing seven steals on 13 Clarke turnovers in the half. Alford (12) and Ashlee Marlatt (11) were each in double digits. All 12 of Alford's points came in the second quarter.
Clarke came out with a little bit more confidence in their step with the third quarter underway as they had cut the Cougars lead to 11 points over the first 3:20. A strong signature Morgan Brandt finish at the rim sent Brandt to the line where she completed the three point play, taking a 38-24 lead. With under four minutes to go in the quarter, Clarke cut the deficit to single digits at the line. Clarke, applying a 1-2-2 press, grabbed a quick steal and another bucket as they seemed to be heating up a bit. A big three from Raegan Wieser gave the Cougars a 10 point lead back, 43-33, under two minutes in the third. Clarke showed a whole new life in the third quarter as Columbia only led by four points heading into the final quarter.
Another three from Wieser started the fourth. Two minutes into the quarter the Cougars were up by six. Columbia continued to take advantage at the free throw line to keep their space. Columbia would call another timeout with around six and a half minutes to play, up by eight. Midway through the final quarter Clarke was staying close behind. Clarke then cut the lead to three, 56-53. Free throws from Clarke made it a one point game with just under three minutes to go and the Cougars called time. A corner three from Clarke had the game tied at 58 apiece following the timeout. In the final minute the game remained tied at 58. Clarke took their first lead of the game in the last minute, 60-58. A Cougar free throw cut it to one and Clarke called a timeout with 22.2 seconds. Columbia came out pressing Clarke and was able to get a deflection to get the ball back in their hands, but they couldn't grab a bucket and had to foul Clarke, where they went to the line and made both to lead 62-59 as Columbia called timeout to advance the ball with 10.6 seconds to play. In the final seconds the Cougars were unable to convert and ended up falling 62-59.
Four Cougars were in double figures. Morgan Brandt had 15 points and nine rebounds, going 11-11 from the line, Jordan Alford had 13 points and four rebounds, Ashlee Marlatt had 12 points and two assists, and Geena Stephens had 11 points and three rebounds. Raegan Wieser had eight points, going 2-4 from three, with three rebounds. Alexis Uffmann dished out four assists in the contest as well. Marlatt's two assists tied her for 6th place all-time assists with 324. Brandt's nine rebounds helped her accomplish another major milestone in her career as she surpassed 1,000 career rebounds, ending with 1,002, while her one assist took over 8th place in all-time assists with 248.
The women's basketball team has concluded what was a phenomenal season. The Cougar community would like to extend another congratulations and thank you to the team for representing Columbia with class on and off the court.
