Columbia, Mo. – Lexi Miller scored a game-high 20 points and Mya Miller added 17 to lead the Columbia College women's basketball team to an 83-54 win over Mission University on Thursday at the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 
With the performance, Lexi Miller moved into third in program history in three-pointers made (235) and 13^th in scoring (1,254).
 
The Cougars broke open a 24-24 tie midway through the second quarter with a 16-0 run to take a commanding 44-29 halftime lead.
 
Columbia won its fourth-straight game to improve to 15-1 and 6-0 in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) standings, while Mission fell to 7-9 and 3-3 in the AMC.
 
Lexi Rubel had her third double-double of the season with 12 points and a team-high 14 rebounds and four assists, while Ashtyn Klusmeyer added 11 points and eight rebounds in the win. The Cougars shot 42.0 percent (29-69 ) from the field and hit 11 threes.
 
Lexi Miller caught fire early, knocking down three triples for nine first-quarter points as Columbia led 23-22 after 10 minutes. The Cougars hit five threes in the opening quarter but were slowed by five turnovers.
 
Columbia took control in the second quarter, using a 16-0 run highlighted by seven points from Klusmeyer, to build a 40-24 lead. Despite a five-minute scoring drought, the Cougars carried a 44-29 advantage into halftime, limiting Mission to just seven points in the quarter.
 
Lexi Miller led all scorers with 15 first-half points, while Klusmeyer added nine and Mya Miller chipped in eight. Columbia shot 47.1 percent from the field (16-of-34), including an efficient 11-of-14 from two-point range.
 
Lexi Miller's corner three capped a 7-0 run as the Columbia advantage grew to 55-33 with 5:40 remaining in the third quarter. The Cougars hit 8-of-17 from the field in the third quarter and took a 65-42 lead to the fourth.
 
Columbia opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run to push the advantage to 76-42.
 
Ireland Jones (14 points) and Tara Masten (13) scored in double figures for Mission, who hit just 4-of-29 from three-point range in the defeat.
 
The Cougars continue AMC play at Central Baptist College on Saturday, January 17 at 1 p.m.
 
NOTES: Columbia leads the all-time series 3-1 … The Cougars hit 10 or more threes for the ninth time this season … Macie Harman scored nine points off the bench in 12 minutes.