Henderson, Tenn. – Tonight the third ranked Columbia College women's basketball team traveled to Henderson, Tennessee to battle the number one ranked Freed-Hardeman University Lions in the AMC Tournament Championship. This was the third meeting of the two teams this season as they split their regular season games, each winning in their own house. In a tough game, Columbia fell 60-53 to finish as the AMC Tournament Runner-Up, earning themselves an automatic bid to the National Tournament. The Cougars are now 29-4 on the season heading into Nationals.
Brewer Sports Center was packed as Championship Monday was in full swing. The Lions were holding the early 6-3 lead after two minutes. The Cougars wanted an early timeout, trailing by just five near the 6:30 mark. Following the timeout, Columbia went on a run cutting the lead to 10-9 and causing two Lion turnovers in the process. A three from Raegan Wieser tied the game at 14 with under three minutes left in the first. The game was going to be nothing short of a battle as these top ranked teams were very familiar with each other. After one quarter, the Lions led 22-16.
The Lions grabbed two quick buckets taking a 26-18 lead to start the second. With the Lions up six, they wanted their first timeout just under seven minutes. As the second continued, the Cougars were not letting the Lions get away easily as it was a three point game, 29-26 over midway through the quarter. However, momentum was in the Lions favor as they added to their lead, 33-26 with the quarter winding down. At halftime the Lions remained on top 34-26. Columbia shot 48 percent from the field in the half.
The Lions came out and took a double-digit lead right away in the third, 38-26. Columbia needed a timeout quickly in the quarter. The Cougars were struggling to find a rhythm in their offense. The Lions went on another run extending their lead 43-26 and another Columbia timeout was called at the 5:30 mark. The Cougars kept fighting as they were down 44-35 with a minute to play in the third. Heading into the final quarter it was a 10 point game, Lions ahead.
In the fourth a big three from Jordan Alford kept them within nine points. Patience on offense found Morgan Brandt who hit from deep to make it a six point game with seven to go. With 5:33 left in the championship game the Lions called a timeout as the Cougars continued to erase their lead. Columbia had cut the lead to three, 51-48. With 3:30 to play, the Lions were back up by six. Free throws from Brandt shortened it to four points. With a minute and a half remaining the Cougars were able to get a Lion turnover which resulted in Mai Nienhueser getting sent to the line where she hit one to make it a three point game. With 32.3 seconds left, the Lions hit two free throws to make it a five point game and Columbia called time. In the final seconds, the Cougars were unable to overcome the Lions as the Lions secured their win at the charity stripe. Columbia fell by a final score of 60-53.
Raegan Wieser had 14 points and three rebounds, while Morgan Brandt had a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Jordan Alford added 10 points and six rebounds, and Ashlee Marlatt also had 10 points, three rebounds, and six assists. With one assist, Brandt has tied 8th all-time career assists at 247. Wieser had three blocks which moves her into 9th place all-time career blocks with 75. The Cougars finished shooting 39 percent from the field, 36 from three, and 80 from the line.
At the conclusion of the game the All-Conference awards were given out. Multiple Cougars were honored. Jordan Alford and Morgan Brandt were named to the First-Team All-Conference, Raegan Wieser was named Second-Team All-Conference, and Ashlee Marlatt was named Third-Team All-Conference. Brandt and Marlatt were also named to the AMC All-Defensive team to round up the awards for Columbia.
The women's basketball team now awaits the Selection Show on Wednesday, March 6th where they will see who they match up with in the first round of the National Tournament that is taking place in Billings, Montana for the third year. The bracket reveal will take place at 5 p.m. through Facebook live @PlayNAIA.
