Indianapolis, Ind. – The No. 8 seed Columbia College women's basketball team had its historic season come to end with a 70-47 loss at No. 1 seed and No. 4-ranked Marian University (Ind.) on Saturday in the second round of the 2026 NAIA Tournament in Indianapolis.
Marian won its 14th-straight game to improve to 31-2, while Columbia had its 20-game win streak snapped and fell to 31-2. The 31 wins are tied for most in a single season in program history.
Marian advances to take Shawnee State (Ohio) in the Round of 16 on Saturday, March 20 at 6 p.m. in Sioux City, Iowa.
Lexi Miller (14 points, eight rebounds, five assists), Lexi Rubel (13 points, 10 rebounds), Ashtyn Klusmeyer (11 points, six rebounds) scored in double figures for Columbia, who shot 37.8 percent (17-of-45) from the field in the loss and committed a season-high 24 turnovers.
Columbia jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, but Marian answered with a 10-0 run to take a 10-5 advantage. Klusmeyer scored seven consecutive points to cut the deficit to three (14-11), but the Knights closed the quarter on a 13-3 run, heading into the second with a 27-14 lead. Columbia committed eight turnovers in the opening quarter.
Marian went on an 8-0 run midway through the second quarter, to double up Columbia at 36-18 and extended their advantage to 41-20 by halftime.
The Cougars shot just 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from the field in the first half and had 16 turnovers. Klusmeyer led Columbia with eight points, while Lexi Miller contributed seven.
A three-point play by Lexi Rubel got the Marian lead down to 45-30, but a 7-1 run by the Knights pushed the lead to 58-35 lead heading to the fourth.
Abbey McNally (19 points, 12 rebounds), Kenna Kirby (14 points) and Kiley McNally (10 points) scored in double figures for Marian, who had a 28-5 advantage in points off turnovers and recorded 13 steals in the win. The Knights are advancing to the final site for the 11th-straight season.
NOTES: This was the first-ever meeting between the two teams … Columbia was 19-1 this season away from home … The three three-pointers made by Columbia were the second fewest of the season … The Cougars are 59-6 the last two seasons … Lexi Rubel recorded her eighth double-double of the season … Marian is 64-3 at home the last four seasons.
