Cougars Roll Past Williams Baptist in AMC Opener

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College women’s basketball team won its American Midwest Conference opener with a 93-53 victory over Williams Baptist University Thursday at Southwell Complex.
 
Columbia improved to 5-2 (1-0 AMC), while Williams Baptist dropped to 2-3 (0-1 AMC). The Cougars are 5-1 at home this season.
 
Hannah Ferguson had a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) to lead six players in double figures: Allison Stiers (14), DeLaney Horstman (13), Peyton Crowe (11), Lexi Miller (11) and Abby Backes (10). Mallory Shetley also added eight points and 10 rebounds.
 
Columbia’s defense limited Williams Baptist to 26.9 percent (18-67) shooting from the field, including 2-of-14 from three-point range. The Cougars also had a 62-33 advantage on the glass and had 24 assists on 34 field goals.
 
The Cougars held the Eagles to 1-of-11 shooting early in the contest and had an 11-3 lead with 4:24 left in the first quarter. Columbia led 19-7 after a quarter as Miller had six points on a pair of three pointers.
 
The Cougars took its largest lead of the first half at 33-11 with 3:36 to play on a layup by Mya Miller. Ferguson had seven points and five rebounds in the second quarter.
 
The Eagles would not away as they answered with an 11-0 run to end the quarter and cut the halftime advantage to 33-22. The Cougars missed their final nine shots from the field.
 
Ferguson had 11 points and eight boards as Columbia limited Williams Baptist to 21.6 percent (8-37) shooting in the opening half and had a 35-21 rebound advantage.
 
The Cougars opened the second half on an 8-2 run to take the 41-24 lead, and then the lead grew back to over 20 (52-31) with 2:46 left in the third on a jumper by Crowe. Columbia outscored Williams Baptist 25-12 in the third to take a 58-34 lead. Stiers had nine points on 4-of-4 shooting in the third. 
 
The Cougars put the game out of reach with an 11-0 run midway through the fourth to take a 76-41 lead.
 
Kaylee Clark led Williams Baptist with 11 points. 
 
Columbia has won three-straight games against Williams Baptist and leads the all-time series 45-2.
 
The Cougars continue AMC play at Stephens College on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m.