Strong Defensive Effort Lifts Cougars Past Hannibal

Hannibal, Mo. – The Columbia College women’s basketball team limited host Hannibal-LaGrange University to a season-low 20.0 percent shooting in a 76-30 victory Thursday at the Mabee Sports Complex in Hannibal, Mo.
 
Columbia won its sixth-straight game to improve to 15-3 (7-1 AMC), while Hannibal-LaGrange dropped its sixth-consecutive game and is 4-9 (0-6 AMC). The Cougars have a half-game lead over Stephens for first place in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) standings.
 
Mackenzie Hess had 17 points and nine rebounds to lead the Cougars, while Mallory Shetley (11), Allison Stiers (11) and Lexi Miller (10) also scored in double figures. The Cougars hit a season-high 15 three-pointers and committed a season-low five turnovers. Columbia also outrebounded Hannibal-LaGrange 52-22.
 
The Cougars jumped out to a commanding 21-3 lead after one quarter of play limiting the Trojans to 1-of-10 (10.0 percent) shooting. Miller scored eight-straight points for the Cougars during a 16-0 run.
 
Stiers nailed a pair of three-pointers as the Cougars opened the second quarter on a 11-0 run to push the advantage to 31-3 with 5:15 to play before half.
 
Shetley had nine points and Miller added eight as the Cougars led 37-6 at half. The Cougars hit six threes and outrebounded the Trojans 25-6. Hannibal-LaGrange hit just 2-of-21 (9.5 percent) from the field.
 
Hess hit four-consecutive threes to open the third quarter and extended the lead to 49-9, and her fifth triple of the quarter pushed the advantage to 54-9. She finished the quarter 5-of-6 from three as Columbia led 62-13.
 
Iva Lesley led Hannibal-LaGrange with 14 points and six rebounds.
 
The Cougars travel to William Woods University on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 1 p.m.
 
NOTES: Columbia has won 44-straight meetings against Hannibal-LaGrange and leads the all-time series 47-1 … DeLaney Horstman had a game-high 12 rebounds.