Cougars Take Season Opener Over Bethel

Columbia, Mo. – DeLaney Horstman recorded a double-double with a career-high 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Columbia College women’s basketball team to an 85-51 win over Bethel College (Kansas) in the season opener for both teams Sunday at the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 
Lexi Miller added 17 points off the bench, while Mackenzie Hess had 11. Columbia took advantage of 27 fouls by Bethel to hit 23-of-34 from the foul line. The Cougars outrebounded Bethel 61-30 and had a 36-12 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Horstman had five of the first seven points as the Cougars led 7-4 in the opening five minutes. Columbia limited Bethel to 4-of-18 shooting (22.2 percent) in the first quarter and led 15-11 after 10 minutes of play. Columbia hit 9-of-12 from the free-throw line.
 
After missing its first seven shots from beyond the arc, Miller canned a wing three to put the Cougars up 22-16 with 7:22 left before half. The Cougars followed with an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 39-27 at half.
 
Miller led all scorers in the first half with 12 points, while Horstman had 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Cougars hit 15-of-21 from the three-throw line.
 
Back-to-back threes by Hess and Allison Stiers extended the Cougar lead to 49-32. The Cougars put the game out of reach with an 11-0 run to make it 60-34 with 1:47 left in the third. Columbia outscored Bethel 23-9 in the quarter.
 
Bethel, coached by NAIA Hall of Famer Rocky Lamar, was led in scoring by Kendall Locke with 13 points. The Threshers were limited to 30.5 (18-59) shooting from the field.
 
The Cougars return to action on Friday, Nov. 3 at Culver-Stockton College in the first of two games at the Oak Hill Classic. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Canton. Columbia takes on Missouri Valley College in its second game on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.
 
NOTES: This marked the first meeting all-time between the two teams … The Cougars won their season opener for the third-straight year .. The double-double for Horstman was the ninth of her career … Three-time All-American Mallory Shetley added five points and 11 rebounds.