Stiers’ Career Day Lifts Cougars Past Friends

Columbia, Mo. – Allison Stiers scored 19 of her career-high 30 points in the first half to lead the Columbia College women’s basketball team to a 74-49 win over Friends University Saturday at the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 
Columbia snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 6-2 with the win, while Friends had its four-game winning streak broken and fell to 4-2.
 
Stiers, who’s previous career-high was 23 (Health Sciences & Pharmacy, 2/24/21) was 11-of-14 from the field and tied a single-game school record with eight three-pointers.
 
DeLaney Horstman had 14 points (8-8 FT) and 13 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. Sydney Reddin added a career-high nine points off the bench, while Abby Backes tied her season-high with seven assists.
 
The Cougars limited Friends to 26.6 percent (17-64) shooting for the game, including 6-of-29 (20.7 percent) in the second half. Columbia outrebounded Friends 59-35 and had seven blocks.
 
Columbia struggled from the field early on missing five of its first six shots from the field and trailed 7-3. The Cougars continued to struggle from the floor and trailed 18-13 after one quarter of play, hitting 5-of-22 (22.7 percent). Stiers connected on two threes for six points.
 
The Cougars went on a 12-0 run early in the second quarter to regain the lead at 25-20 with 5:07 to play before half. Columbia made five of six shots from the field during the run, which included eight-straight points from Stiers.
 
Columbia outscored Friends 23-8 in the second quarter, hitting 8-of-16 from the field, to take a commanding 36-26 halftime lead. Stiers had 19 points on 7-of-10 (5-8 3FG) shooting.
 
The Cougars went on a 16-0 run midway through the third quarter to put the game out of reach at 53-29. The Cougars limited the Falcons without a bucket for 6:49. Columbia outscored Friends 19-10 in the third quarter, hitting 6-of-6 from the foul line.
 
Stiers opened the fourth with a pair of threes as part of an 8-0 run as the lead grew to 63-36.
 
Taylor Jackson led Friends with a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds).
 
The Cougars return to American Midwest Conference (AMC) play by hosting Central Baptist College on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m.
 
NOTES: This was the first all-time meeting between the two teams … The Cougars have won 18-straight home games and are 22-1 at home the last two seasons … Columbia hit 10-of-10 from the free-throw line … The Cougars have limited six of their first eight opponents to less than 55 points.