Cougars Charge Past Westminster to Move to 3-0

Columbia, Mo. – Lexi Miller scored 12 of her career-high 17 points in the third quarter to help lead the Columbia College women’s basketball team to a 79-46 win over Westminster College Wednesday at The Arena of Southwest Complex.
 
The Cougars limited Westminster to 25.4 percent (16-of-63) shooting from the field, including 4-of-19 from three-point range. Columbia outrebounded Westminster 58-43 and the Cougars had a 46-18 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Columbia improved to 3-0 under first-year head coach James Arnold, while Westminster fell to 0-1. The Cougars are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
 
Columbia hit five of its first six shots from the field and led 11-4 in the opening six minutes of play. A three-pointer by Peyton Crowe gave the Cougars a 14-7 advantage.
 
The Cougars led by double figures (21-11) after the opening quarter, limiting the Bluejays to 2-of-14 shooting from the field. Allison Stiers led the Cougars with eight first-quarter points on a pair of three-pointers.
 
After a low scoring second quarter, Columbia took a 32-21 lead into the break. The Cougars held Westminster to six field goals and 19.4 percent shooting from the field in the first half.
 
Columbia outscored Westminster 22-10 in the third quarter to take a commanding 54-31 lead. Miller had 12 points in the quarter on 4-of-5 shooting.
 
Stiers finished with 13 points, while Delaney Horstman had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Hannah Ferguson added 10 points.
 
Westminster was led in scoring by Annette Ramirez with nine points.
 
Columbia, who received 21 votes in the NAIA Preseason Top-25 Poll, has won both all-time meetings against Westminster. 
 
The Cougars host Oklahoma Panhandle State University on Monday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.