Backes’ Double-Double Lifts Cougars Past Hannibal

Columbia, Mo. – Abby Backes recorded the first double-double of her career with 18 points and a career-best 10 assists to lead the Columbia College women’s basketball team to an 87-39 win over Hannibal-LaGrange University Thursday at the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 
Columbia won its third-straight game and improved to 21-4 (13-2 AMC), while Hannibal-LaGrange dropped its fourth-straight contest and fell to 5-17 (1-14 AMC). With the win and combined with a Stephens loss, the Cougars moved into a three-way tie for first place in the AMC standings.
 
Lexi Miller added 17 points on five three pointers, while Mallory Shetley had 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting. Columbia hit a season-high 16 three-pointers and outrebounded Hannibal-LaGrange 49-34. 
 
Backes drained three triples early in the contact as the Cougars led 9-6 in the opening five minutes. A low-scoring first quarter saw Columbia hold onto a 16-12 lead after 10 minutes. Backes had nine points while Ashlyn Vermeer had 10 points for Hannibal-LaGrange. Columbia limited HLG to 28.6 percent (4-14) shooting in the first quarter.
 
Miller nailed back-to-back threes to open the second quarter to extend the lead to 22-15. Miller’s second three-pointer ignited a 14-0 run as the Cougars built a 33-15 lead with 5:06 left before half. The Trojans went without a bucket for 4:38 during the decisive run.
 
Miller had all 11 of her points in the second quarter as the Cougars took a 37-21 lead to half. Backes also added 11 points in the opening for Columbia, which limited HLG to 26.9 percent (7-26) shooting in the opening half. 
 
Allison Stiers and Backes drained threes to open the third quarter as the Cougars opened on a 15-2 run to get the lead to 52-23. The lead grew to 30 (55-25) on Miller’s fourth three-pointer of the game. Columbia outscored HLG 33-8 in the third quarter, shooting 60.0 percent (12-2) from the field with seven threes.
 
Vermeer had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead Hannibal-LaGrange, who shot just 27.3 percent (15-55) from the field in the loss.
 
The Cougars celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 17 against William Woods University. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
 
NOTES: Columbia has won 45-straight meetings against Hannibal-LaGrange and leads the all-time series 48-1 … The Cougars outscored Hannibal-LaGrange 39-2 in bench points … Columbia improved to 13-0 at home this season and has won 27-consecutive games at the Arena of Southwell Complex.