Cougars Advance to Fourth Straight AMC Tournament Championship Game

Columbia, Mo. – The top-seeded Cougars of Columbia College took everything the Eutectics of the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy had tonight in the semifinals of the AMC Women’s Basketball tournament. A back and forth contest that featured four tied scores and eight lead changes, it was all Columbia down the stretch as they would play to a 70-62 win over UHSP. 

The win moves Columbia to 26-4 overall, while UHSP ends their season at 16-14. 

Both teams traded points early in the first quarter as Columbia would take a 10-8 lead after two made free throws from DeLaney Horstman. The Eutectics went on a 7-2 scoring run then to lead 15-12 with just under three minutes to play. At the end of the first quarter, Mallory Shetley converted on a fast break layup to put the Cougars ahead at the break, 18-17. 

The second quarter would see the Eutectics jump out to a 24-20 lead after made baskets from Samantha Matthews and Grace Beyer. Mya Miller and Abby Backes stopped the scoring run with four quick points to tie the game, 24-24. From there, Grace Beyer scored 14 of her teams’ next 17 points to head into halftime leading the Cougars, 41-37.

The Cougars turned on the pressure in the second half as they outscored the Eutectics 18-10 in the third quarter behind eight points from Mallory Shetley, seven points from DeLaney Horstman, and three from Mackenzie Hess. 

With a 55-51 lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Cougars managed to hold the NAIA career points record holder, Grace Beyer, to just two points while outscoring the team, 15-11. 

Mallory Shetley registered a game and season-high 34 points, moving her into third place in the CC record books for career scoring. Shetley also added eight rebounds and three blocks. 

DeLaney Horstman registered her sixteenth double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds. 

Mackenzie Hess (8), Mya Miller (7), and Abby Backes (6) rounded out the scoring for the Cougars. 

Columbia, making its fourth consecutive AMC tournament title game appearance, will take on the third-seeded Eagles of Williams Baptist Monday night at home. Game time is set for 5:30PM inside the Arena of Southwell Complex.