Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College women's basketball team had four starters score in double figures as the Cougars posted a 69-49 win over Cottey College Saturday at the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 
Columbia won its third-straight game to improve to 21-2 (15-2 AMC), while Cottey fell to 15-8 (11-6 AMC). 
 
Lexi Miller led the Cougars with a game-high 19 points on five three-pointers, while Mallory Shetley added 16 points and six rebounds. Abby Backes filled up the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Tori Rubel recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Backes moved into 18th on the all-time scoring list and eclipsed 1,100 points for her career (1,111). The Cougars hit nine threes in the wins, outrebounded Cottey 50-25, and had a 16-2 advantage in second-chance points.
 
Columbia hit its first four shots from the field and led 13-2 in the opening 3:23 of the contest. The Cougars led 22-12 after the first quarter, limiting Cottey to 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) shooting from the field.
 
Lexi Miller's corner three pushed the advantage to 27-14, and then the Cougars took their largest lead of the half at 34-20 with 5:54 left on a bucket by Shetley.
 
Columbia held a 40-28 halftime lead after limiting Cottey to 34.5 percent (10-29) shooting from the field, including 1-of-9 from three-point range. The Cougars also dominated the glass 25-13. Shetley had nine points to lead the Cougars, while Lexi Miller added eight.
 
Back-to-back threes from Backes and Lexi Miller pushed the lead to 48-33, and a bucket by Rubel gave the Cougars a 52-33 lead. Cottey scored six-straight points and trimmed CCs lead to 54-39 heading to the final quarter.
 
Cottey opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run connecting on its first three shots as the lead was trimmed to 54-47 with 6:49 to play. Shetley's 15-foot elbow jumper ended the scoring draught for the Cougars, which lasted almost six minutes. 
 
Lexi Miller's corner three with 2:36 left put the game out of reach following a great play by Mya Miller to keep the possession alive. The Cougars ended the game on a 13-0 run.
 
Sara Montesdeoca (13 points) and Autumn Wallace (12) scored in double figures for Cottey, who was limited to 3-of-18 from three-point range in the loss.
 
The Cougars return to action at UHSP on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
 
NOTES: Columbia has won seven all-time meetings between the two teams .... The Cougars are 11-1 this season at home ... Shetley is nine points shy of 2,000 for her career (1,991) ... Mya Miller added seven points and nine rebounds.