Columbia Cougars

March 2003 Headlines

March 29, 2003
Cougars finish third in West Florida Invitational

Pensacola, Fla. – The Columbia Cougar softball team took home the third place prize today in the University of West Florida Invitational, completing the three-day event with a mark of 4-2. Columbia, which is ranked No. 6 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, was defeated by seventh-ranked Thomas University (Ga.) in the semifinal round by a score of 5-2.

The Cougars rebounded to knock off 19th-ranked William Woods University (Mo.) by a score of 1-0 in nine innings in the consolation game. The split moves Columbia’s overall record to 18-8.

In the first game, the Cougars fell behind in the first inning on a three-run home run by Thomas. Despite scoring two runs in the sixth inning, Columbia failed to generate enough offensive to catch Thomas, which also added two runs late in the game to take the 5-2 victory.

Jayne Miller (9-4) was the losing pitcher, giving up two walks, four hits and a home run. She tallied three strikeouts in the effort. Megan Kuntze was two for four at the plate with a double and an RBI. Amy Seipp and Amanda Rhorer each recorded an RBI.

In the semifinal contest vs. William Woods, both teams failed to score through eight innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Columbia centerfielder Krista Viefhaus led off with a base hit. After being sacrificed to second, Cindy Fotti singled to put Cougar runners at first and third. Anna Seipp the knocked the game-winning RBI with a sacrifice fly to leftfield, scoring Viefhaus and giving Columbia the 1-0 win.

Monica Mueller (9-4) picked up the victory with ten strikeouts. She gave up five hits and one walk. Kuntze was one for one in the contest with four walks, a double and a stolen base.

The Cougars return to American Midwest Conference action when they host Hannibal-LaGrange College (Mo.) on Tuesday, April 1. Start time for the doubleheader is 3 p.m. at Cougar Softball Field.

 

March 28, 2003
Softball Cougars fall to West Florida, shutout Shawnee State

Pensacola, Fla. – After finishing 2-0 yesterday in the first day of the University of West Florida Invitational, the Columbia Cougar softball team picked up a split in the second day of action, falling to the host institution 1-0 and rebounding to knock off Shawnee State University (Ohio) 4-0. With the 1-1 finish, the Cougars, ranked No. 6 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Rating, move to 17-7 on the season.

In the first game, the Argonauts, who are ranked No. 19 in the latest NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, scored the lone run of the contest in the fourth inning, while holding the Cougars scoreless through seven innings. Monica Mueller (8-4) notched the loss, striking out five batters, while giving up seven hits and three walks.

Megan Kuntze recorded two hits in three at-bats, including a double. Kristina Jones was also two for three in the loss.

In Columbia’s contest vs. the Bears from Shawnee State, Jayne Miller (9-3) threw a no-hit shutout. She tallied 11 strikeouts and gave up no hits.

The Cougars scored runs in the second, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Cindy Fotti was three for three at the plate, including two RBIs, scoring Krista Viefhaus in the first and sixth innings. Anna Seipp also contributed an RBI, scoring Destiny Perry in the fifth inning. Amanda Rhorer dropped in the final RBI of the contest to score Seipp in the seventh.

In addition to Fotti, Amy Seipp knocked two hits in three at-bats. Viefhaus was also two for three with a stolen base.

Columbia moves into semifinal round of the invitational tomorrow at 9 a.m. to face the winner of tonight’s contest between Bossier Parish Community College (La.) and Thomas University (Ga.). Should they prevail, the Cougars will play in the championship contest at 11 a.m. A loss would put Columbia in the consolation game at the same time.

 

March 27, 2003
Cougars fall to Wayland Baptist in national tourney

Kansas City, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar basketball team was unable to hold off Wayland Baptist (Texas) University in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament tonight, suffering a 72-68 upset by the Pioneers. The loss ends Columbia’s season at 25-9.

Wayland Baptist, which finished the season ranked No. 18 in the final top 25 poll, improves to 22-8. The Pioneers move into the second round to face Mountain State (W.Va.) University.

The Cougars trailed Wayland Baptist 36-33 at the break due in large part to Pioneers Amin Norris and Ty Harrelson, who totaled 27 of Wayland Baptist’s 36 first-half points. In addition, Columbia was unable to convert from long range, connecting on just one of its eight three-point attempts, while the Pioneers knocked down six-of-13 from beyond the three-point arc.

In the second half, the Cougars fell behind by as many as nine points, but behind 18 second half points by Columbia guard Khamari Ballard, were able to knot the score at 64 with two minutes remaining in the game. Pioneer Matt Garnett then hit a three-pointer to push Wayland Baptist ahead 67-64. Columbia was unable to answer down the stretch, falling to the Pioneers 72-68.

Ballard finished with 25 points and five rebounds. Senior forward Jason Wright tallied 14 points and five rebounds in his final outing as a Cougar. Harrelson paced Wayland Baptist with a triple-double, totaling 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Norris dropped in 26 points.

 

March 27, 2003
Softball Cougars win two in UWF Invitational

Pensacola, Fla. – The Columbia Cougar softball team picked up two wins in the University of West Florida Invitational today, defeating Faulkner (Ala.) University 3-1 and Bossier Parish Community College 2-0.

Despite picking up two victories in the invitational, Columbia’s overall record only improves by one win. Contests vs. community and junior colleges do not count toward the overall records and statistics of NAIA affiliated institutions. Columbia stands at 16-6 on the season.

The win over Faulkner avenges a 2-1, eight inning loss suffered by the Cougars on March 7 at the hands of the Eagles at the NFCA Lead-off Classic.

Jayne Miller (9-3) recorded the win over the Eagles, fanning ten batters, while giving up five hits and two walks. The Cougars scored two runs in the first inning and added an insurance run in the seventh, after Faulkner scored its lone run in the fifth inning.

Anna Seipp tallied two hits in two trips to the plate. Kristina Jones knocked a triple and contributed an RBI. Amanda Rhorer totaled an RBI and two stole bases and Krista Viefhaus turned in a double, a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI.

Monica Mueller (7-3) was the winning pitcher against Bossier Parish, notching four strikeouts and allowing five hits.

Columbia scored both runs in the second inning. Jones was two-for-four at the plate. Rhorer was three-for-three with an RBI. Destiny Perry also swiped three bases and contributed an RBI.

Columbia continues in the three-day tournament tomorrow when the squad squares off against the University of West Florida at noon. The host is ranked No. 19 in the latest NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, at noon. Depending on the outcome, the Cougars will play at 2 or 4 p.m.

 

March 25, 2003
Softball Cougars remain at No. 6 in latest top 25 poll

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar softball team is in the No. 6 position in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, released today by the national office in Olathe, Kan. The Cougars are 15-6 overall and garnered 270 points in the rating and have remained in the sixth position since the preseason rating.

Oklahoma Baptist University and Simon Fraser (B.C.) University are tied for first place in the poll with five first place votes apiece and 334 points. Oklahoma Baptist is 16-6 on the season and Simon Fraser is 13-3.

Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) University is in third place with three first place votes and 307 points. Oklahoma City University is in fourth with a mark of 15-5, followed by the University of Mobile (Ala.), which handed Columbia two losses in a doubleheader yesterday afternoon in Mobile.

Columbia’s American Midwest Conference foe William Woods (Mo.) University moved up two spots in this week’s poll, jumping from No. 21 to No. 19. McKendree (Ill.) College, which is also a member of the AMC, appeared in this week’s rating as well, taking over the 25th position with 22 points.

Columbia is in Pensacola, Fla. this week to compete in the University of West Florida Invitational on March 27-29. On Thursday, March 27, the Cougars will face Faulkner (Ala.) University at 10 a.m. and Bossier Parish Community (La.) College at 4 p.m. Columbia squares off against the University of West Florida at noon on Friday, March 28.

 

March 24, 2003
No. 6 Cougars drop two vs. No. 5 University of Mobile

Mobile, Ala. – The sixth-ranked Columbia Cougar softball team failed to upset the University of Mobile Rams today, falling to the fifth-ranked squad in the NAIA in both games of a doubleheader. Columbia was shutout 6-0 in the first contest and dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker in eight innings in the second game. The losses move the Cougars to 15-6 on the season.

In the first game, Columbia failed to generate any offense. Cougar batters struck out 14 times and were unable to tally a hit in seven innings of play.  

Jayne Miller (8-3) took the loss, giving up six hits, three earned runs and five walks. The senior hurler fanned six Ram batters in seven innings of work.

In the second game, Columbia’s Amy Seipp scored in the top off the first inning, giving the Cougars an early 1-0 advantage. The Rams answered in the bottom of the inning, getting one runner across home plate to tie the score.

Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the eighth inning when the University of Mobile lead-off batter walked. She was then scored on an RBI double, giving the home squad the 2-1 victory.

Seipp was two for four in the contest with a double. Kristina Jones recorded an RBI and Amanda Rhorer smacked a triple.

Monica Mueller (7-3) notched the loss. She totaled six strikeouts, while giving up five hits, three walks and two earned runs.

Columbia travels to Pensacola, Fla. to compete in the University of West Florida Invitational on March 27-29. On Thursday, March 27, the Cougars will face Faulkner (Ala.) University at 10 a.m. and Bossier Parish Community (La.) College at 4 p.m. Columbia squares off against the University of West Florida at noon on Friday, March 28.

 

March 19, 2003
Cougars to face Wayland Baptist in the first round of NAIA National Tournament

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar basketball team will play Wayland Baptist (Texas) University in the first round of the NAIA Division I Men’s National Basketball Tournament, according to the official bracket released by the NAIA National Office earlier this evening. The Cougars will square off against the Pioneers from Wayland Baptist at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

With its No. 13 rating in the final top 25 poll, which was also released today, Columbia received an at-large berth into the tournament. Wayland Baptist, which is ranked No. 18 in the final poll, is 21-8 entering the national playoff. The Pioneers advanced as an at-large selection out of the Sooner Athletic Conference, which boasts five qualifiers to this year’s field of 32 teams.

The Pioneers are paced by two all-conference performers, including Ty Harrelson, a 6’4” senior guard, who was named to the first team and Amin Norris, a 6’7” forward/post who was a third team selection.

Harrelson, a NAIA Player of the Week and two-time league player of the week honoree, is averaging 20.3 points and 6.8 assists per game. He holds streaks of 43 and 38 consecutive free throws made this season and has hit 89 of his last 91 attempts. Harrelson has totaled 1,033 points in his two seasons as a Pioneer, and is 25 assists away from breaking the single season assist record of 215.

Norris is averaging 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds a game. He leads the Pioneers in field goal percentage, dropping in 52.1 percent of his shots.

First round action in the NAIA National Tournament begins on Wednesday, March 26 and continues through Thursday, March 27. The 32-team playoff features 14 automatic qualifiers from 11 NAIA Division I affiliated conferences, one independent qualifier and 17 at-large berths.

Ticket and accommodation information, as well as other tournament facts, can be found via the Web at www.columbiacougars.com or by phoning 573-875-7419.

 

March 19, 2003
Lady Cougars fall to Central State in first round of NAIA National Tournament

Jackson, Tenn. – The Columbia Lady Cougar basketball team saw its season come to an end today, falling in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament to Central State (Ohio) University by a score of 74-60. The loss ends Columbia’s season at 25-9.

Central State, which finished the season ranked No. 8 in the final top 25 poll, improves to 27-4. The Lady Marauders move into the second round to face the winner of the first round contest between North Georgia University and Oklahoma Baptist University.

After early baskets by both teams, the Lady Cougars put together a 7-0 run behind six points by sophomore Lisa Kowalewski to take an 18-10 lead. Central State responded with a nine-point run of their own, but Columbia answered, putting together a 6-0 offensive spurt to take a 24-18 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first 20 minutes of action.

The Lady Marauders again answered with an offensive charge, stringing together 12 points to move ahead of the Lady Cougars 30-24. Mindy Mitchem broke the drought for Columbia with 43 seconds remaining in the half with a ten-foot jump shot. Central State knocked down a three-point basket to end the half, making the score 33-26 in favor of the Lady Marauders at the break.

Early in the second half, the Lady Cougars outscored Central State 15-8 to pull within two points with 13 minutes remaining. Intense, full court pressure by the Lady Marauders forced the Lady Cougars into cold shooting and allowed Columbia to pull no closer, falling to Central State 74-60.

Columbia shot and made just three freethows in the game, while Central State was 16-for-23 from the charity stripe. The Lady Cougars shot just 39 percent from the field, while the Lady Marauders hit 44 percent for their attempts. In addition, Central State forced Columbia to turn the ball over 20 times and swiped 12 steals to Columbia’s three.

Pacing Columbia, which finished the season in the No. 25 spot in the final top 25 rating, was Missy Wilt with 14 points. B.J. Homer dropped in 13 and Kowalewski added 12.

Seniors Homer and Wilt, as well as A.J. Jandles, end their careers at Columbia with two American Midwest Conference regular season titles, one league postseason tournament title, two trips to the NAIA National Tournament and a record of 55-14.

 

March 18, 2003
Columbia’s first AMC outing suspended due to weather,
Cougars remain in No. 6 spot in first NAIA Top 25 Poll

Lebanon, Ill. – The Columbia Cougar softball team’s first American Midwest Conference match-up, a doubleheader vs. McKendree (Ill.) College, was suspended today due to inclement weather conditions. The teams made it through nine innings of the first contest before the game was stopped with each team showing six runs on the scoreboard. Once a date has been set, play will resume in the top of the ninth inning. Once the first game is decided, the second game of the doubleheader will be played in its entirety.

Columbia held a 3-0 advantage through four innings of the game, scoring one run in the first, third and fourth innings, respectively. The Bearcats roared back in the fourth, posting four runs to take the lead.

In the sixth inning, Columbia’s Amada Rhorer blasted a three-run home run to give the Cougars a 6-4 lead. However, the Bearcats answered in the bottom of the inning with two runs to knot the score at six. Neither team scored in the seventh or eighth inning. When play resumes, the Cougars will be at bat with Rhorer at the plate and Kristina Jones on second base per the international tiebreaker rule.

Jayne Miller (8-2) was on the mound for the Cougars. Through eight innings, the Palmyra, Mo. native recorded three strikeouts and five walks.

The Cougars, who are 15-4 on the season, are ranked No. 6 in the first NAIA Top 25 Rating, released today by the national office. Today’s poll is the first since the preseason ranking in which Columbia also held the No. 6 spot. Columbia’s AMC rival William Woods (Mo.) University moved into the No. 21 spot. McKendree also picked up four votes.

Oklahoma Baptist University is in the top slot with five first place votes and a record of 12-4. Simon Fraser (B.C.) University is in the No. 2 position with a mark of 13-3 and four first place votes. Oklahoma City University is third, followed by Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) University and the University of Mobile. The Cougars square off against Mobile next Monday, March 24 in a doubleheader in Alabama.

Columbia returns to action tomorrow when they host NCAA Division II opponent Central Missouri State University in a doubleheader at Cougar Softball Field. The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 3 p.m.

 

March 16, 2003
Softball Cougars win three at WWU Challenge Games

Jefferson City, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar softball team tallied three wins in the second day of the William Woods University Challenge Games, defeating Coe (Iowa) College 5-2 in eight innings, University of Missouri-St. Louis by a score of 5-4 and Culver-Stockton (Mo.) College 10-0. The wins move the Cougars, ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll, to 15-4 on the season. The Cougars finish the weekend invitational with a mark of 4-1.

In Columbia’s 9 a.m. contest vs. Coe, the Cougars fell behind early when the Kohawks scored in the first inning. Columbia failed to score until the top of the seventh inning when one run crossed the plate to send the game to extra innings. The Cougars managed four runs in the top of the eighth and held Coe to one run in the bottom of the inning to take the 5-2 win.

Monica Mueller (7-2) picked up the victory, fanning a season high ten batters and giving up four hits. Anna Seipp was four for four at the plate with two runs scored and Kristina Jones was two for three with two RBIs. Cindy Fotti also knocked three hits in the win.

In the second game vs. NCAA Division II University of Missouri-St. Louis, Columbia fell behind 4-0 and failed to score until the top of the fifth inning when Jones jacked a solo home run. Columbia got hot offensively in the fifth inning when Anna Seipp singled to score Megan Kuntze. Amy Seipp then homered to bring in both Seipps, knotting the score at four runs apiece. Columbia scored the winning run in the sixth inning and held off UMSL in the seventh to take the 5-4 victory.

Mueller (8-2) recorded the win with three strikeouts and one hit. Mueller relieved Megan Nikolenko in the fourth inning, who gave up five hits and five runs.

The Cougars rolled over Region V opponent Culver-Stockton in their final game of the day, scoring six runs in the second inning, including a three-run home run by Jones and a three-run double by Anna Seipp, and four runs in the fifth, including a three-run home run by Krista Viefhaus. Jayne Miller (8-2) notched the win, giving up just one hit in the shutout.

The Cougars kick-off American Midwest Conference regular season action on Tuesday, March 18 when they travel to Lebanon, Ill. to take on McKendree College in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

 

March 15, 2003
Cougars fall to McKendree in tournament title game

Lebanon, Ill. – The Columbia Cougar men’s basketball team was unable to dethrone the top seed in the American Midwest Conference postseason tournament championship tonight, falling to the Bearcats from McKendree (Ill.) College 81-59. The loss drops the Cougars to 25-8. The Bearcats, who are ranked No. 2 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, push to 31-3 with the win.

Columbia trailed 39-25 at halftime, shooting just 31 percent from the field. In addition, the Cougars were unable to connect from beyond the three-point arc in the first 20 minutes of action and were just three-of-six from the freethrow line, while the Bearcats converted 18 of their 21 attempts from the charity stripe.

McKendree remained in control throughout the second half outscoring Columbia 42-34 to take the victory. For the contest, the Bearcats shot 55 percent from the field, while the Cougars managed to connect on just 34 percent of their field goal attempts. In addition, McKendree outrebounded Columbia 44-33.

Pacing Columbia was Donald Chambers with 22 points. Khamari Ballard added 14. Four players scored in double figures for McKendree led by Matt Laur with 16 points. Laur also grabbed 13 rebounds.

The win gives McKendree the league’s automatic bid into the NAIA National Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City on March 26 – April 1. The 32-team playoff features 14 automatic qualifiers from 11 NAIA Division I affiliated conferences, one independent qualifier and 17 at-large berths.

The Cougars, who are ranked No. 12 in the latest poll, will receive an at-large berth. The bracket for the playoff is scheduled for release on Wednesday, March 19.

Following the contest, Ballard, Andre Amos and Jason Wright were recognized as members of the AMC All-Conference First Team. Chambers received honorable mention accolades. In addition, Ballard was voted by league coaches as the newcomer of the year. 

Amos, Adam Coulibaly, Brad Hemmer, Justin Keen, Jacob Mohnke, Nahowan Saxon, Aaron Stone and Joe Thompson were also honored as members of the academic all-conference squad for maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.

 

March 15, 2003
Softball Cougars split in first day of WWU Challenge Games

Jefferson City, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar softball team recorded a win and a loss in the first day of the William Woods University Challenge Games today, defeating Mt. Mercy (Iowa) College 11-3 and falling to St. Gregory’s (Okla.) University, which is ranked No. 24 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll,  5-3 in eight innings. The Cougars, who are ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll, are 12-4 on the season.

Monica Mueller (6-2) recorded the win over Mt. Mercy, fanning four batters and giving up four hits in four innings of work. Megan Nikolenko relieved Mueller in the fifth, giving up zero hits and notching one strikeout.

Mt. Mercy scored all three of its runs in the top of the first inning. The Cougars responded in their first at-bat of the game, scoring five in the bottom of the inning, including back-to-back home runs by Amy Seipp and Kristina Jones. Columbia added a run in the second inning and five more in the fourth to take the 11-3 win.

Jones was three for three in the contest with a home run and an RBI. Seipp also notched a home run and an RBI. Amanda Rhorer knocked two hits in two appearances at the plate, including an RBI and a double. Krista Viefhaus also went two for three in the victory.

Jayne Miller (7-2) picked up the loss vs. St. Gregory’s, giving up eight hits while totaling seven strikeouts. The Cavaliers took an early 2-0 lead, but Columbia responded with three runs in the third inning. St. Gregory’s added a run in the fifth to knot the score at three and in the top of the eighth inning, scored two runs to take the 5-3 win.

Amy Seipp was two for four at the plate with a double. Megan Kuntze and Cindy Fotti also recorded two hits and Heather Lang and Destiny Perry each contributed an RBI.

The Cougars continue in the two-day invitational tomorrow at the Riverside Complex in Jefferson City. Columbia faces Coe (Iowa) College at 9 a.m., University of Missouri-St. Louis at 12:30 p.m. and Culver-Stockton (Mo.) College at 2:15 p.m.

 

March 14, 2003
Softball Cougars drop No. 19 Missouri Valley

Marshall, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar softball team extended its record to 11-3 today, defeating the Missouri Valley College Vikings, who are ranked No. 19 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll, by scores of 5-1 and 2-0. The Cougars are ranked No. 6 in the preseason rating.

Jayne Miller (7-1) was the winning pitcher in the first contest, recording seven strikeouts and giving up seven hits. Megan Kuntze went three for four with a double and a home run. Amy Seipp added three hits, including a triple and Amanda Rhorer added two triples.

Monica Mueller (5-2) recorded the win in the second game, giving up one hit and fanning four Viking batters. Heather Lang tallied two hits in three trips to the plate. Destiny Perry notched a double and an RBI. Krista Viefhaus also knocked two hits, including a triple.

The Cougars return to action this weekend when they travel to Jefferson City, Mo. to compete in the William Woods Challenge Games at the Riverside Complex. On Saturday, March 15, Columbia squares off against Mt. Mercy (Iowa) College at 10 a.m. and St. Gregory’s (Okla.) University at 11:45 a.m. On Sunday, Columbia faces Coe (Iowa) College at 9 a.m., University of Missouri-St. Louis at 12:30 p.m. and Culver-Stockton (Mo.) College at 2:15 p.m.

 

March 13, 2003
Cougars move into AMC championship, Prepare to face McKendree in title match-up

St. Louis, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar basketball team avenged its Feb. 20 regular season road loss to Missouri Baptist University tonight, defeating the Spartans in the semifinal round of the American Midwest Conference postseason tournament by a score of 81-65. Both Missouri Baptist and Columbia ended AMC regular season action with a league mark of 7-3, but due to league tiebreakers, the Spartans received the No. 2 seed, thus giving Missouri Baptist home court advantage in tonight’s match-up.

Columbia took a 40-30 advantage into the locker room at halftime behind a strong defensive performance by the Cougars, allowing just nine Missouri Baptist field goals in the first half. In addition, senior Donald Chambers chipped in 14 points in the first 20 minutes of action to lead Columbia’s offensive effort. The Spartans closed the gap to eight points early in the second half, but the Cougars regained control, stretching their lead to as many as 21 points.

Khamari Ballard led the way for Columbia with 25 points. Chambers tallied 17 and Andre Amos tossed in 11 points. Chad Ballinger paced Missouri Baptist with 15 points.

The win pushes the Cougars, ranked No. 12 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, to 25-7 on the season. The loss drops Missouri Baptist to 21-8. The Cougars will square off against McKendree (Ill.) College in Lebanon, Ill. on Saturday, March 15 at 7 p.m. for the league postseason tournament title.

The Bearcats, ranked No. 2 in the latest national poll, defeated Williams Baptist (Ark.) College 114-78 in their semifinal match-up tonight in Lebanon. McKendree defeated Columbia in both meetings during the regular season, winning 54-53 in Columbia on Jan. 30 and 64-62 on Feb. 22 in Lebanon. 

The Columbia College athletic department is chartering a fan bus to McKendree. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Departure is scheduled for 4 p.m. from behind Southwell Complex. Interested parties should contact Jane Long at 573-875-7433.

The winner of the AMC tournament receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City on March 26 – April 1. The 32-team playoff features 14 automatic qualifiers from 11 NAIA Division I affiliated conferences, one independent qualifier and 17 at-large berths.

 

March 12, 2003
Lady Cougars draw Central State in the first round of NAIA National Tournament

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Lady Cougars basketball team will play Central State (Ohio) University in the first round of the NAIA Division I Women’s National Basketball Tournament, according to the official bracket released today by the NAIA National Office. Columbia received an automatic invitation to the tournament by winning the American Midwest Conference postseason tournament on Monday.

The Lady Cougars will square off against the Lady Marauders at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 19 at Oman Arena in Jackson, Tenn. Columbia currently holds a mark 25-8 and is ranked No. 25 in the final NAIA Top 25 Poll.

Central State, which is ranked No. 8 in the final poll,  is 26-4 entering the national tournament. The squad advanced by as an at-large selection. They were defeated in the semifinal round of the NAIA independent tournament.

This is the second trip to the NAIA National Tournament for the Lady Cougar basketball program. Last year in its inaugural season, Columbia received an at-large invitation to the tournament and was defeated in the first round by Lambuth (Tenn.) University.

First round action in the NAIA National Tournament begins on Wednesday, March 19 and continues through Thursday, March 20. The championship playoff is a 32-team, single-elimination tournament featuring the champions of the 15 affiliated conferences, one independent and 16 at-large berths.

 

March 11, 2003
Cougars defeat Harris-Stowe, Advance to semifinal round of AMC Tournament

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar basketball team coasted into the semifinal round of the AMC postseason tournament tonight, knocking off sixth-seeded Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) College 91-61 in the quarterfinal round of the playoff. With the win, the Cougars, seeded No. 3 in the tournament, move to 24-7 on the season. Harris-Stowe’s season ends at 8-20.

Columbia led Harris-Stowe 46-23 at halftime and outrebounded the Hornets 51-28 in the contest. Khamari Ballard led the offensive charge with 28 points. Andre Amos added 13 points and Derek Broadus and Justin Keen each dropped in 10. Donald Chambers pulled in eight rebounds. D’Monte Singleton paced Harris-Stowe with 19 points.

The Cougars play Missouri Baptist University (21-7) in St. Louis on Thursday, March 13 at 7 p.m. in the semifinal round of the AMC tournament. The Columbia College athletic department is chartering a fan bus to Missouri Baptist. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Departure time is 4:30 p.m. from behind Southwell Complex. Interested parties should contact Jane Long at 573-875-7433.

Should the Cougars prevail against Missouri Baptist, they will move into the championship contest on Saturday, March 15 at the home of the highest remaining seed. Columbia would face the winner of other semifinal contest between McKendree (Ill.) College and Williams Baptist (Ark.) College.

The winner of the AMC tournament receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City on March 26 – April 1. The 32-team playoff features 14 automatic qualifiers from 11 NAIA Division I affiliated conferences, one independent qualifier and 17 at-large berths.

 

March 11, 2003
Softball Cougars win two at William Jewell

Liberty, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar softball team, ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll, picked up two victories today over William Jewell (Mo.) College, defeating the Cardinals 6-1 and 9-0. With the wins, the Cougars improve to 9-3 on the season.

In the first contest, Columbia scored three runs in the second inning, one in the fourth and two in the seventh. The Cougars gave up the lone run of the day on a home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Anna Seipp was two for three at the plate with a home run and two RBIs. Krista Viefhaus was also two for three, tallying three RBIs. Cindy Fotti swiped two stolen bases in the.

Jayne Miller (6-1) recorded the win, giving up just two hits and one walk, while notching nine strikeouts.

In the second game, Columbia held William Jewell scoreless, while scoring five runs in the second inning, one in the third and three in the sixth. Anna Seipp was two for three with two RBIs and a triple. Megan Kuntze was two for four with a triple and two RBIs. Krista Viefhaus was also two for three with a double and a triple. Amy Seipp also knocked a solo home run in the victory.

Monica Mueller (4-2) notched the win, pitching four innings and giving up three hits while fanning two Cardinal batters. Megan Nikolenko relieved Mueller after four innings and recorded one strikeout.

The Cougars are back in action on Thursday, March 13 when they travel to Marshall, Mo. to take on Missouri Valley College in a doubleheader at 3 p.m.

 

March 11, 2003
Lady Cougars climb into 25th spot in final poll, Cougars move to No. 12 in latest men’s rating

Columbia, MO – The Columbia Lady Cougar basketball team, after clinching an automatic bid to NAIA National Tournament by winning the AMC Postseason Tournament last night, moved into the 25th position in the final top 25 ranking, released today by the NAIA national office.

The Lady Cougars, who are 25-8 on the season, will compete in the 32-team national tournament beginning on Wednesday, March 19 in Jackson, Tenn. Bracket information for the playoff is scheduled for release tomorrow, March 12 at 3 p.m. Fans and media are invited to attend a bracket release celebration at 2:45 p.m. in the foyer of Southwell Complex.

Oklahoma City University is in the top position in the women’s poll with 12 first place votes and a perfect 29-0 record. Houston Baptist (Texas) University and Union (Tenn.) University are tied for second place with 292 points.

The Cougar men’s basketball squad moved up one spot in the next-to-last top 25 rating, jumping from No. 13 to the No. 12 position. Columbia enters AMC tournament action tonight after ending the regular season with a mark of 23-7.

The Cougars, seeded No. 3 in the conference playoff, will take on No. 6 Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) at 7 p.m. tonight in The Arena of Southwell Complex. Should the Cougars prevail in tonight’s contest, they will travel to St. Louis on Thursday, March 13 to take on No. 2 Missouri Baptist University in a 7 p.m. semifinal match-up.

Houston Baptist remains atop the men’s poll with a 29-2 record and ten first place votes. Columbia’s AMC rival, McKendree (Ill.) College, is in the No. 2 spot with 289 points and two first place votes. Southern-New Orleans (La.) University moved from No. 4 to No. 3 with 268 points and a record of 20-4.

 

March 10, 2003
Lady Cougars win AMC tournament title, Clinch automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Lady Cougar basketball team clinched an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament tonight, defeating Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) College in the championship game of the AMC tournament by a score of 81-74. With the win the Lady Cougars improve to 25-8 on the season. Hannibal-LaGrange ends its season with a record of 24-7.

Columbia led by as many as eight points in the first half, but the Trojans ended the half with an offensive charge to take a 34-32 lead into the locker room. Hannibal-LaGrange kept the momentum to start the second half and led Columbia 49-39 midway through the half.

Lisa Kowalewski hit a three-pointer with approximately 12 minutes remaining to spark a 15-0 run and push Columbia into the lead. The Lady Cougars never trailed, and despite closing the gap to as little as two points late in the game, Hannibal was unable to match the offensive effort of the Lady Cougars.

Kowalewski tied a career-high with 26 points, 22 of which she scored in the second half. B.J. Homer and Missy Wilt dropped in 16 and 15, respectively and Katie Dorson added 11. Wilt passed out seven assists and A.J. Jandles corralled nine rebounds. Delena White paced Hannibal-LaGrange with 24 points, including an 18-for-18 performance from the freethrow line.

Following the contest, Missy Wilt, Lisa Kowalewski and Avril Jandles were recognized as members of the AMC All-Conference First Team. B.J. Homer received honorable mention accolades and for the second consecutive season, Lady Cougar head coach Mike Davis received league coach of the year honors.

In addition, eight Lady Cougars, including LaQueisha Dickerson, Katie Dorson, Kylie Evans, Tiffany Foote, Avril Jandles, B.J. Homer, Lisa Kowalewski and Mindy Mitchem earned academic all-conference honors for maintaining a cumulative grade point average above 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

First round play in the NAIA National Tournament begins on Wednesday, March 19 in Jackson, Tenn. at the Oman Arena. Release of the 32-team bracket is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12 at 3 p.m.

 

March 9, 2003
Softball Cougars finish second in NFCA Lead-off Classic

LaGrange, Ga. – The Columbia Cougar softball team, ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll, finished as the runner-up in the NFCA Lead-off Classic, advancing into the finals with a 2-1 win over Thomas (Ga.) University and falling to No. 4 Oklahoma Baptist University 9-1 in the championship contest. With the split, the Cougars move to 7-3 on the season. The squad finished the tournament with a mark of 4-2.

In the semifinal contest vs. Thomas, Columbia's opponent crossed home plate first, scoring a run in the fifth inning. Amy Seipp scored in the sixth to knot the game at one run apiece. Neither team scored in the seventh, sending the contest into extra innings. Columbia’s Megan Kuntze started the eighth inning on second per the international tiebreaker rule and scored on a single by Kristina Jones. Thomas was unable to answer, giving Columbia the 2-1 victory.

Jayne Miller (4-1) notched the win, fanning six strikeouts and giving up six hits and five walks.

In the final vs. Oklahoma Baptist, Kuntze scored in the first inning, giving the Cougars the early 1-0 advantage. However, the Lady Bisons took advantage of fielding errors by Columbia throughout the remainder of the contest, scoring three runs in the third inning and adding six more in the fourth.

Monica Mueller (3-2), who was relieved by Megan Nikolenko in the bottom of the fourth inning, took the loss for the Cougars.

The Cougars return to action on Tuesday, March 11 when they travel to Liberty, Mo. to take on William Jewell College in a make-up contest that was originally scheduled for Feb. 25. The doubleheader is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.

 

March 8, 2003
Softball Cougars pick up two wins in NFCA Classic

LaGrange, Ga. – In the second day of the NFCA Lead-Off Classic, the Cougars recorded two wins, including a 7-2 victory over Georgetown (Ky.) College and a 5-4 win over Ohio Dominican University. The victories push Columbia’s overall record to 6-2 and move the squad into the semifinals of the tournament tomorrow at 10 a.m. vs. Thomas (Ga.) University. Should they prevail, the Cougars advance to the championship contest at noon.

In Columbia’s first win vs. Georgetown, Jayne Miller (3-1) picked up the win, tallying 10 strikeouts and giving up just four hits. Amy Seipp led the way offensively, going three-for-three with a double. Kristina Jones notched two hits, including a home run. Amanda Rhorer also tallied two hits in three trips to the plate.

In the Cougars’ victory over Ohio Dominican, both teams scored two runs in the first inning. The Panthers added a run in the fourth and a run in the fifth. The Cougars answered with two runs in the fifth and ended the contest with the game-winning run in the seventh.

Monica Mueller (3-1) notched the win with four strikeouts. Amy Seipp added a home run and Jones knocked a triple. Cindy Fotti was two-for-three with two runs scored.

 

March 10, 2003
Cougars finish regular season with win, Enter postseason tournament as No. 3 seed

Walnut Ridge, Ark. – The Columbia Cougar basketball team wrapped up its regular season schedule today, picking up an 80-69 win vs. Williams Baptist (Ark.) College and finishing 23-7 overall and 7-3 in American Midwest Conference action. The loss drops Williams Baptist to 6-20 on the season and 2-8 vs. league foes.

Columbia was paced by Andre Amos with 22 points. Jason Wright added 21 and Donald Chambers and Khamari Ballard tallied 14 and 12 points, respectively. Jeremy Bell led the way for Williams Baptist with 39 points.

The Cougars, who are ranked No. 13 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, will be the No. 3 seed in the postseason tournament behind No. 1 McKendree (Ill.) College and No. 2 Missouri Baptist University. Columbia will host an AMC quarterfinal contest vs. No. 6 Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) College on Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. in The Arena of Southwell Complex.

Should the Cougars advance to the semifinal round of the AMC playoff, they will face Missouri Baptist on Thursday, March 13 at 7 p.m. in St. Louis. The championship contest is scheduled for Saturday, March 15 at the home of the highest remaining seed.

The winner of the AMC tournament receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City on March 26 – April 1. The 32-team playoff features 14 automatic qualifiers from 11 NAIA Division I affiliated conferences, one independent qualifier and 17 at-large berths.

American Midwest Conference Final Regular Season Standings

*Tiebreaker goes to Missouri Baptist based on record on the road vs. common NAIA opponents.

March 7, 2003
Lady Cougars move into AMC championship game,
Knock off William Woods in the semifinal round

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Lady Cougar basketball team moved one step closer to receiving an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament tonight, defeating William Woods (Mo.) University 75-60 in the semifinal round of the American Midwest Conference (AMC) postseason tournament. The Lady Cougars improve to 24-8 with the victory. The Owls end their season with a mark of 18-13.

The Lady Cougars will square off against Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) College in the AMC championship on Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m. in The Arena of Southwell Complex. The Trojans are the No. 2 seed in the tournament and moved into the final by knocking off McKendree (Ill.) College in the semifinal round. The winner of Monday’s game receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament in Jackson, Tenn. on March 19-25.

Columbia led William Woods by nine points at halftime and improved its shooting performance in the second half, knocking down 49 percent of its field goal attempts to outscore the Owls 40-34 in the final 20 minutes of action. The Lady Cougars also converted 24 points off of 17 Owl turnovers.

Pacing the Lady Cougars was Avril Jandles with 20 points and nine rebounds. Missy Wilt added 18 points and Lisa Kowalewski chipped in 15. Kowalewski also pulled in eight rebounds and passed out four assists. Kim Tennill led William Woods with 25 points.

Following Monday’s championship game, members of the AMC All-Conference and Academic All-Conference squads will be recognized.

 

March 7, 2003
Softball Cougars record a split in first day of NFCA Classic

LaGrange, Ga. – In the first day of the NFCA Lead-Off Classic, the Columbia Cougar softball team tallied a split, falling to Faulkner (Ala.) University 2-1 in extra innings and picking up a 4-2 win over Walsh (Ohio) University. The Cougars, who are ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll, are 4-2 on the season.

In the first contest vs. Faulkner, Columbia’s Heather Lang scored in the fifth inning off an RBI single by Megan Kuntze. The Lady Eagles knotted the score in the sixth off a solo home run. Both teams failed to cross home plate in the seventh inning and in the top of the eighth, utilizing the international tie-breaker rule, Faulkner was able to score its runner from second base. Columbia was unable to answer, giving the Lady Eagles the 2-1 victory.

Jayne Miller (2-1) recorded the loss for the Cougars. The senior from Palmyra, Mo. gave up four hits and struck out 12 batters.

In Columbia’s second game vs. the Cavaliers from Walsh, Columbia scored four runs in the third inning, including a solo home run by catcher Amy Seipp. Walsh notched two unearned runs in the sixth. Neither team added runs in the seventh inning, giving the Cougars the 4-2 win.

Anna Seipp went three-for-three in the contest, including two singles and a double. Monica Mueller (2-1) picked up the victory on the mound, striking out eight batters and giving up four hits.

The Cougars return to action in the three-day classic tomorrow when they take on Georgetown (Ky.) College at 12:30 p.m.

 

March 6, 2003
Columbia gets past Hannibal-LaGrange, Moves to 22-7 overall and 6-3 in league play

Hannibal, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar basketball team moved to 22-7 tonight, recording a 70-57 win over conference foe Hannibal-LaGrange College. The victory pushes the Cougars to 6-3 in conference play with one game remaining in the regular season schedule. Hannibal-LaGrange drops to 10-21 overall and 3-6 vs. league foes with tonight’s loss.

Columbia led Hannibal-LaGrange 28-25 at halftime and shot 61 percent in the second half to outscore the Trojans by ten in the final 20 minutes and take the 13-point victory. In addition, the Cougars forced 18 Trojan turnovers and pressured Hannibal into a one-for-15 shooting performance from beyond the three-point arc.

Pacing Columbia in the victory were Khamari Ballard and Jason Wright who totaled 16 points apiece. Donald Chambers added 15. Wright shot 70 percent from the field and pulled in a game-high eight rebounds. Phillip Clophus led the effort for Hannibal-LaGrange with 19 points.

The Cougars are currently in third place in the AMC regular season standings. McKendree (Ill.) College is in first place and Missouri Baptist University is in second. Columbia, ranked No. 13 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, plays its final league contest in Walnut Ridge, Ark. on Saturday, March 8 at 2 p.m.

Should the Cougars and the Spartans from Missouri Baptist each win their final league contest on Saturday, the Cougars will be the No. 3 seed in the AMC postseason tournament and host a quarterfinal contest on Tuesday, March 11. A Cougar victory and a Spartan loss on Saturday would move Columbia to the No. 2 position and give the Cougars a bye in the first round of the AMC playoff.

The AMC postseason tournament will take place on March 11, 13 and 15. Seeds one and two will receive byes in the first round. The winner of the playoff receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City on March 26 – April 1. 

American Midwest Conference Regular Season Standings – as of March 6, 2003

 

March 4, 2003
Cougars jump three spots in latest top 25 poll,
Lady Cougars fall out of national rating

Columbia, MO – The Columbia Lady Cougar basketball team dropped out of the NAIA Top 25 Rating this week, falling from No. 22 to No. 27. The Lady Cougars dropped their final regular season contest last week, losing to Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) College 85-71 in Hannibal.

The Lady Cougars finished the regular season with a mark of 23-8 and 10-1 in league play. As the regular season champion, Columbia received a bye in the first round of the American Midwest Conference postseason tournament and will play William Woods (Mo.) University, the No. 5 seed, on Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m. in The Arena of Southwell Complex. William Woods upset No. 4 Williams Baptist (Ark.) College 70-66 in the first round.

Should the Lady Cougars prevail in the semifinal match-up, they will host the championship contest on Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m. The winner of the postseason tournament receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament in Jackson, Tenn. on March 19 – 25. The Division I championship is a 32-team, single-elimination tournament featuring the champions of the 15 affiliated conferences, one independent and 16 at-large berths.

Oklahoma City University remained in the top spot in the women’s poll with all 12 first place votes and a perfect 27-0 record. Houston Baptist (Texas) University is second, followed by Union (Tenn.) University in third. Hannibal-LaGrange pulled in two votes in the poll.

The Cougar men’s basketball squad moved up three positions in this week’s poll, climbing from No. 16 to No. 13 with 144 points. With one week to play in the regular season, the Cougars are 21-7 overall, 4-3 in AMC action and sit in third place in the league standings. Columbia visits Hannibal-LaGrange on Thursday, March 6 for a 7 p.m. contest and Williams Baptist on Saturday, March 8 for a 2 p.m. tip-off.

McKendree (Ill.) College, which remained in the No. 2 spot in this week’s top 25 poll, wrapped up the AMC regular season title on Saturday and will therefore hold the No. 1 seed in the postseason tournament. Missouri Baptist University is second in the AMC standings with two games remaining on its schedule.

Houston Baptist is in the top spot in the men’s poll with ten first place votes and 27-2 record. McKendree is second with two first place votes, followed by Oklahoma Baptist University, Southern-New Orleans (La.) University and Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University.

 

March 4, 2003
Softball Cougars split with Truman State

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar softball team notched a split versus NCAA Division II Truman State (Mo.) University today, winning the first game 1-0 and dropping the second 3-1. Columbia is 3-1 on the season. The Bulldogs are 1-1.

In the first contest, both teams remained scoreless through six and a half innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Cougar catcher Amy Seipp doubled and Kristina Jones advanced her to third base on a sacrifice bunt. An error by Truman State third baseman Loni Wedemeier allowed Seipp to score, giving Columbia the 1-0 victory.

Jayne Miller (2-0) picked up the win for the Cougars, recording nine strikeouts. Britni Buford tallied the loss for Truman State.

In the second game, both teams struck early, with each scoring one run in the first inning. The score remained tied until the top of the seventh when Truman State picked up two runs on two Cougar errors to push its lead to 3-1. Columbia was unable to answer in the bottom of the inning, giving the Cougars their first loss of the season.

Monica Mueller (1-1) recorded the loss for Columbia, giving up seven hits and three walks. Jones led Columbia’s offensive attack, smacking two hits in three trips to the plate.

The Cougars return to action this weekend when they travel to LaGrange, Ga. to compete in the NFCA Lead-Off Classic, which features some of the top teams in the NAIA. Columbia kicks off action in the three-day event when it faces Faulkner (Ala.) University at noon on Friday, March 7. The Cougars then square off against Walsh (Ohio) University at 7:30 p.m.

 

March 3, 2003
Softball Cougars start 2003 season 2-0

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar softball team kicked off the 2003 campaign with two wins today, taking two games from mid-Missouri rival Central Methodist (Mo.) College. Columbia, which is ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll, defeated the Eagles 3-0 in the first contest and 3-2 in the second. With the wins, the Cougars improve to 2-0 on the season. The Eagles fall to 0-2.

In the first game, Jayne Miller (1-0) picked up the victory, fanning nine Eagle batters. Amy Pottebaum (0-1) recorded the loss for CMC. Columbia scored two of its three runs on wild pitches by Pottebaum, tallying one run in the third and one in the sixth. Heather Lang singled in the sixth inning to score Anna Seipp and give Columbia the 3-0 victory. Amanda Rhorer paced Columbia offensively, knocking two hits in three appearances at the plate.

In the second contest, Monica Mueller (1-0) notched the win with three strikeouts. CMC’s Shannan Saunders (0-1) tallied the loss. CMC got on the board first, scoring in the second inning. Columbia answered when Kristina Jones scored off a Rhorer bunt, making the score 1-1.

Rhorer then scored on a Destiny Perry sacrifice fly to put the Cougars ahead 2-1. The Eagles rallied to knot the score when Ashley Smith scored on a single by Bridget Geisendorfer. Columbia tallied the go-ahead run in the fifth inning when Amy Seipp singled to score Cindy Fotti and give Columbia the 3-2 advantage and eventual victory.

The Cougars return to action on Tuesday, March 4 when they host NCAA Division II Truman State (Mo.) University. Start time is set for 3 p.m. at Cougar Softball Field.

 

March 1, 2003
Columbia handles Harris-Stowe

Columbia, Mo. – In its final regular season home outing of the 2002-03 campaign, the Columbia Cougars recorded a victory over American Midwest Conference foe Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) College, dropping the Hornets 88-60. With the win, the Cougars improve to 21-7 overall and 5-3 in conference action. The Hornets drop to 8-16 overall and 1-6 vs. league foes.

Columbia forced the Hornets into 19 turnovers and outrebounded Harris-Stowe 48-32. In addition, the Cougars swiped 14 steals and dished out 18 assists to Harris-Stowe’s eight.

Pacing Columbia in the victory was Khamari Ballard with 20 points. Donald Chambers and Andre Amos added 13 points apeice and Justin Keen chipped in 12. Amos also passed out four assists and led the rebounding effort for Columbia with nine. Justin Chambly was the leading scorer for Harris-Stowe with 16 points.

The Cougars are currently in third place in the AMC regular season standings with two games remaining on the league schedule. McKendree (Ill.) College clinched the AMC regular season title tonight with a 91-86 win over Missouri Baptist University, which is No. 2 in the conference race.

Columbia, ranked No. 16 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, travels to Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) College on Thursday, March 6. Tip-off for the AMC contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Cougars play their final league contest in Walnut Ridge, Ark. on Saturday, March 8 at 2 p.m.

The AMC postseason tournament will take place on March 11, 13 and 15. Seeds one and two will receive byes in the first round. The winner of the playoff receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City on March 26 – April 1. 

American Midwest Conference Regular Season Standings – as of March 1, 2003

 

March 1, 2003
Lady Cougars stumble vs. Hannibal-LaGrange

Hannibal, Mo. – Despite clinching the AMC title two weeks ago, the Columbia Lady Cougar basketball team was unable to close out the AMC regular season race undefeated, falling to Hannibal-LaGrange College today 85-71.

Columbia, ranked No. 22 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, wraps up its regular season schedule with a 23-8 record and a 10-1 mark in conference play. The victory brings Hannibal-LaGrange to 23-6 and 8-3 in AMC action. The Trojan victory snaps Columbia’s win streak at 12 games. It also ends the Lady Cougars’ two year, 21-game win streak in regular season league action.

The Trojans put together an impressive offensive performance in the victory, shooting 52 percent from the field and 67 percent from beyond the three-point arc. Defensively, Hannibal-LaGrange held the Lady Cougars to a 32 percent shooting performance.

Leading the effort for Columbia was B.J. Homer with 17 points. Katie Dorson added 14 and Lisa Kowalewski dropped in 11. Homer also pulled down seven rebounds, passed out four assists and swiped four steals. Misty Evans paced Hannibal-LaGrange with 26 points.

As the regular season conference champions, the Lady Cougars are the No. 1 seed in the AMC postseason tournament and receive a bye in the first round. The Trojans, who are the No. 2 seed, will also receive a first round bye. Columbia will host a semifinal contest on Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m. in The Arena of Southwell Complex. They will play the winner of the quarterfinal contest between William Woods (Mo.) University and Williams Baptist (Ark.) College.

Should the Lady Cougars prevail in the semifinal contest, they will host the championship game on Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m. The winner of the AMC tournament receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament in Jackson, Tenn. on March 19-25.

American Midwest Conference Final Regular Season Standings – as of March 1, 2003