Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College Women's Basketball team advances to the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Women's Basketball Tournament finals with a 77-60 win over 6-seeded Central Baptist College (Ark.). The Cougars improve to 14-4 on the season.
By advancing to the AMC Championship game, Columbia has earned an automatic bid to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women's Basketball National Championship. The Cougars will make an appearance in the NAIA Opening Round, as the AMC Tournament Champion or the AMC Tournament Runner-Up.
The Cougars started the first quarter off by taking the first basket. The Mustangs and Cougars traded point for point. The lead changed twice and was tied up four times. Columbia ended the first period on a 9-0 run and lead 21-12 at the end of the quarter.
The Mustangs found their rhythm in the second, taking a 24-22 lead after a 12-1 run. The Cougars and Mustangs traded the lead twice before a couple of crucial three-point field goals my Mallory Shetley and Sofia Popp gave Columbia the advantage going into the half, 32-28.
The Cougar's offense continued to stay hot in the third period, recording their largest scoring quarter of the game with 27 points. With 2:04 remaining, Columbia pushed its lead out to 14-points, which was the largest lead to that point.
In the final quarter, the Cougars continued their dominance with an 8-1 run, increasing the lead to 16 (72-56). The largest lead of the game for either team came with 34-seconds remaining on the clock, as a field goal by Geena Stephens gave Columbia the 19-point lead at 77-58.
Mallory Shetley recorded a near triple-double with 11 points, nine assists and nine rebounds.
By the Numbers
41.6 – Columbia shot nearly 42-percent from the field
37-9 – The Cougars bench outscored the Mustangs bench.
15 – Columbia dished out 15 assists
11-5 – Cougar steals over the Mustangs.
Columbia College Leaders
Scoring Leader – Geena Stephens/ Allison Stiers (16)
Rebounding Leader – Mallory Shetley (9)
Assist Leader – Mallory Shetley (9)
Central Baptist Leaders
Scoring Leader – Alexis Augustus (16)
Rebounding Leader – Chrishey Wilkes (7)
Assist Leader – Holly Allen (5)
Up Next
The Cougars are back in action on Monday, March 1, when they travel to Batesville, Ark., to take on the No. 1-seed Lyon College Scots in the AMC Championship game. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.
