Columbia Cougars

November 2006 Headlines

November 30, 2006
Volleyball Cougars fall to National American, advance to bracket play

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar volleyball squad finished pool play of the NAIA National Tournament with a 2-1 mark, falling tonight to top seeded National American (S.D.) University by scores of 20-30, 18-30 and 16-30. Columbia, which is now 42-6 on the season, is the No. 10 seed in the 10-team national playoff bracket.

The Cougars will face Albertson (Idaho) College on Friday, December 1 at 10:30 a.m. on the Arena Court of the Southwell Complex.

November 29, 2006
Volleyball Cougars go 2-0 in first day of NAIA National Tourney

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar volleyball squad finished the first day of the NAIA National Tournament with a perfect 2-0 mark, downing King (Tenn.) College by scores of 30-22, 26-30, 30-10 and 30-24, and dropping Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University in five games by scores of 26-30, 30-28, 30-18, 26-30 and 15-11. Columbia, which is now 42-5 on the season, is the No. 10 seed in the 20-team national playoff.

Versus King, Rael Rotich led the effort for Columbia with 22 kills. Yi Zhang tallied 14 kills, and Juliana Quadrado posted 11 kills and 13 blocks. Luana Branco totaled 53 assists.

Against Azusa Pacific, Rotich and Quadrado were again the offensive leaders, putting down 19 kills a piece.  Zhang added 12. Branco contributed 48 assists and eight kills.

Pool play wraps up tomorrow at Columbia College. The Cougars will take on No. 1 seeded National American (S.D.) University at 8:15 p.m.

The top two teams from each of the four pools in the NAIA National Tournament advance to the quarterfinal round on Friday, Dec. 1. Quarterfinal matches are scheduled for 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Friday. Semifinal matches are slated for 9:30 a.m.  and noon on Saturday, Dec. 2, followed by the championship match at 7:30 p.m.

 

November 28, 2006
Lady Cougars steal one-point win over Lindenwood in overtime

St. Charles, Mo. – The Columbia Lady Cougar basketball team squeaked out a thrilling win on the road tonight, defeating Lindenwood (Mo.) University in overtime 68-67. With the win, the Lady Cougars, who are ranked No. 25 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, improve to 7-1 on the season.

Lindenwood led Columbia by one point at halftime, but found themselves up by three with just seconds to go in regulation time when Lindenwood hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.  The Lady Cougars found themselves in a similar position, trailing the home squad 67-65 with 10 seconds remaining in overtime.  Columbia guard Whitney Widaman dropped in a three-pointer from 32-feet out to put the Lady Cougars up by one and give them the victory.

Columbia forward Rachel Davis paced the Lady Cougars with 18 points and eight rebounds. Megan Archuleta added 10 points and Valerie Suarez posted nine points and eight rebounds.

The Lady Cougars return to the court on Monday, Dec. 4 when they host Park (Mo.) University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

November 27, 2006
Cougar softball signs Cavanah and Rehagen to letters of intent

Columbia, Mo. - Columbia College women’s softball coach Wendy Spratt officially announced today that she has signed Kensie Cavanah, a senior at Marceline High School, and Kacey Rehagen, a senior at St. Elizabeth High School, to a national letters of intent to play softball for the Cougars beginning next year.

Cavanah, who is a native of Marceline, Mo., is a four-year varsity letter winner as well as a four-year All-Conference and All-District recipient.  Kensie ended her high school softball career with a 58-24 pitching record, including a 1.4 Earned Run Average and 667 strikeouts.  At the plate, Cavanah hit .387 with 55 stolen bases and 69 RBIs.

Rehagen posted a 1.14 Earned Run Average as a senior and recorded eight shutouts and one no-hitter.  Kacey also posted a batting average of .391 and led her team to a 17-7 record as well as Conference and District Championships.  For her efforts in 2006, she was named All-Conference, All-District, All-Region, All-State and Conference and District MVP. 

Cavanah and Rehagen join a Columbia College softball squad that will graduate six seniors in 2007. 

November 25, 2006
Cougars finish with a split in KMIZ/Best Western Classic,
defeat Culver-Stockton in overtime

Columbia, Mo. - The Columbia Cougar men’s basketball team pushed its overall record to 3-6 this afternoon, knocking off Culver-Stockton (Mo.) College 77-75 in overtime, to finish 1-1 in the KMIZ/Best Western Thanksgiving Classic.

Columbia led Culver-Stockton 35-30 at halftime despite shooting 41 percent from field compared to the Wildcats 46 percent. 

In the second half Culver-Stockton tied up the score at 69 with under a minute to play.  The Cougars were unable to get a shot off, forcing the contest into overtime.  Columbia outscored the Wildcats 8-6 in the extra frame, with seven of their points coming from Marcus Bradford.

Marcus Bradford notched 32 points and seven rebounds.   Trae Hall tallied 15 points and seven rebounds. Mikel Fields was also in double figures with 12 points. Dane Brooks led the effort for the Wildcats with 27 points.

In the first game of the afternoon, Central Methodist (Mo.) University defeated Harris-Stowe (Mo.) State University 76-71 to finish 2-0 in the classic.

Following the contest, a five-member all-classic squad and most valuable player were recognized. Players were chosen by members of the classic committee as well as the local media. Honorees included Dane Brooks from Culver-Stockton, Shane Ringen and Matt Sherman from Central Methodist, Melvin Martin from Harris-Stowe and Mikel Fields from Columbia College.

For his efforts in the two-day event, Cougar senior guard Marcus Bradford was recognized as the most valuable player. Bradford tallied 45 points in the two Cougar games.  

November 24, 2006
Eagles defeat Cougars in first day of KMIZ/Best Western Thanksgiving Classic
Lady Cougars down Robert Morris

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar men’s basketball team fell to Central Methodist (Mo.) University 50-76 in the first day of the KMIZ/Best Western Thanksgiving Classic. The loss moves Columbia to 2-6 overall.

Columbia trailed the Eagles 36-23 at halftime. The Cougars struggled offensively, shooting below 30 percent from the field. Central Methodist managed to shoot 50.9 percent for the contest.

Marcus Bradford led Columbia’s scoring effort with 13. The senior guard also pulled in five rebounds. Mikel Fields finished with 12 points.

In the first contest of the evening, Culver-Stockton (Mo.) College defeated Harris-Stowe (Mo.) State University 91-72.

Action continues tomorrow in the two-day Thanksgiving classic in the Arena of Southwell Complex. At 1 p.m., Harris-Stowe will square off against Central Methodist. At 3 p.m., Columbia will face Culver-Stockton. Following the 3 p.m. contest, the five-member all-classic squad, as well as the event’s most valuable player, will be recognized.

Chicago, Ill. -  In women’s basketball action in Chicago, Ill., the Lady Cougars picked up a win over Robert Morris College, topping them 72-60. Columbia, which is the 25th-ranked squad in NAIA Division I, improves to 6-1.

The Lady Cougars led Robert Morris 24-22 at halftime. Columbia posted just a 30 percent shooting performance in the first frame, but outscored Robert Morris 48-30 in the second half to take the 12-point victory. 

Amber Lewellen led Columbia’s scoring effort with 18 points. Rachel Davis added 12 points and Helen Ogunjimi added 11, nine of which came from beyond the three-point arc. Ogunjimi also posted seven rebounds.

The Lady Cougars are back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 28 when they travel to St. Charles, Mo.  to take on Lindenwood (Mo.) University.  Start time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

November 21, 2006
Cougar basketball falls to MidAmerica Nazarene

Columbia, Mo. - The Cougar men’s basketball team logged their fifth loss of the season falling to MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) University 59-83.  With the loss the Cougars fall to 2-5 on the year.  MidAmerica improves to 6-0 on the season.

Junior guard Trae Hall led the Cougars in scoring 21 points going three for eight from 3-point range.  Two other Cougars also scored in double figures.  Ryan Steinhoff tallied 16 points and Mikel Fields added ten.

Columbia pulled down 29 rebounds, while the Pioneers pulled down 36.  MidAmerica committed 17 turnovers to Columbia College's 13.  The Cougars shot 33.8 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent from the line.

On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24 & 25, the Cougars will host the KMIZ/Best Western Thanksgiving Classic.  Culver-Stockton (Mo.) College and Harris-Stowe State University open play on Friday at 6 p.m.  The Cougars will face Central Methodist (Mo.) University  at 8 p.m.  On Saturday Central Methodist will face Harris-Stowe at 1 p.m. followed by a battle between Columbia and Culver-Stockton at 3 p.m.

November 18, 2006
Lady Cougar basketball posts fifth win of the season

Fremont, Neb. - In women’s basketball action in Fremont, Neb., the Columbia Lady Cougars got back on the winning track, defeating Peru State (Neb.) College, 94-80. The win improves Columbia’s overall record to 5-1 on the season.  The Lady Cougars are ranked No. 25 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll.

The two teams were tied at 42 after the first 20 minutes of play.  Peru State made eight of 16 three-point attempts in the first half.  The Lady Cougars picked up the defensive pressure in the second half holding Peru State to just four of 11 shooting from three-point range leading to the 14 point victory.

Columbia shot 57% from the field and made 26 of 29 free-throw attempts.  Amber Lewellen led the Lady Cougars with 20 points.  Jessica Wilkerson and LeAnn Fossum added 17 and 14 points, respectively.  Helen Ogunjimi recorded 13 points going five for five from the field and three for three from the line, in just 18 minutes of action.

The Lady Cougars hit the road next week to take on Robert Morris College in Chicago, Ill. on Friday, Nov. 24.  Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. 

November 18, 2006
Cougars struggle against Missouri Baptist

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar volleyball team fell to Missouri Baptist University in the Region V Championship match by scores of 21-30, 19-30, 30-22 and 25-30.  Columbia, which is 40-5 on the season, is ranked No. 5 in the final NAIA National Rating.

Missouri Baptist, ranked No. 10 in the NAIA, improves to 36-8 on the season with today’s victory.

The Cougars have met up with the Spartans six times this season.  Each team has won three of those match-ups. 

Columbia struggled with 11 serving and 31 blocking errors throughout the match. 

Leading Columbia’s effort was Yi Zhang with 19 kills and 10 digs. Rael Rotich chipped in 17 kills, while Juliana Quadrado posted 11.  Jessica Williams added 18 digs.   Luana Branco tallied 47 assists, 30 digs and three kills. 

Ana Mercado led the Spartans with 26 kills. 

As the Region V Champion, Missouri Baptist receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament in Columbia, Mo. Nov. 29 through Dec. 2.  Columbia will receive the host bid to the NAIA Volleyball National Championship.  All participating teams for the 2006 NAIA Volleyball National Championship, including at-large teams, will be released on Sunday, November 19. Pool play assignments will be released on Monday, November 20.

November 17, 2006
Volleyball Cougars advance to Region final
Lady Cougar basketball squad falls to Cardinal Stritch

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar volleyball squad moved into the championship of the Region V tournament tonight, defeating William Jewell (Mo.) College in the semifinals by scores of 30-23, 30-25 and 30-25. With the win, the Cougars, who are the top seed in the region playoff, move to 40-4 on the season. The loss ends William Jewell's season at 21-11.

Leading the way for Columbia was Yi Zhang with 13 kills. Juliana Quadrado contributed 12 kills and three blocks, while Rael Rotich posted 11 kills.  Luana Branco recorded 35 assists, 19 digs and seven kills. Quadrado and Zhang added 16 and 13 digs, respectively.

The Cougars will face AMC rival Missouri Baptist University in tomorrow’s title match. Columbia is 3-2 vs. MBU this season. The Spartans defeated Lindenwood (Mo.) University in the first semifinal match of the evening by scores of 30-20, 30-26 and 30-27.

Should the Cougars prevail in the Region V championship contest, they will receive an automatic bid in the 20-team NAIA National Tournament in Columbia, Mo. on Nov. 29 - Dec. 2. 

Fremont, Neb. - In women’s basketball action in Fremont, Neb., the Columbia Lady Cougars fell 79-70 to Cardinal Stritch (Wisc.) University. The loss drops Columbia, which is ranked No. 25 in the preseason Top 25 poll, to 4-1 on the season.

Columbia led 36-30 at the half but was unable to slow down Cardinal Stritch in the second half.  Two players scored in double figures for Columbia, led by LeAnn Fossum with 11 points. Helen Ogunjimi recorded ten points.

The Lady Cougars will play in the consolation game of the Midland Lutheran (Neb.) College Classic tomorrow.  Tip-off time is not yet determined. 

November 16, 2006
Pirates defeat Cougars by six

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar basketball squad suffered a tough loss, falling to the Pirates of Park (Mo.) University 89-83. The Cougars slip to 2-4 with tonight’s defeat. Park improves to 5-2.

Columbia scorched the nets in the first half, shooting 54 percent from the field and 64 percent from beyond the three-point arc. The Cougars put in seven of their 11 attempts from long range.  Park stayed close in the first half and trailed the Cougars 43-41 at the break.

In the second half the Pirates and the Cougars traded the lead, until Park was able to put together a run in the final minutes to pull away for the six-point victory. 

After a blistering first half, the Cougars converted 47 percent of their field goals in the second 20 minutes. In addition, Columbia was 15-of-18 from the free throw line in the contest, while the Pirates finished 19-of-25 from the charity stripe.

Trae Hall led Columbia’s effort with 24 points. Hall put down five three-pointers in the contest. DeAndre' Carroll added 21 points, while Mikel Fields posted 20 points and six rebounds. Brandon Voorhees was the top scorer for Park with 28 points.

On Tuesday, Nov. 21 the Cougars host MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) University at 7 p.m. in the Arena of Southwell Complex.

November 15, 2006
Lady Cougars defeat Lindsey Wilson
Volleyball squad remains at No. 5 in final NAIA Top 25 Rating

Columbia, Mo. - The Lady Cougars, who are ranked No. 25 in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Poll, defeated Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College 83-80 tonight.  The win improves the Cougars overall record to 4-0 on the season.  The loss drops the Blue Raiders to 0-6 overall.   

The Lady Cougars trailed Lindsey Wilson at the half, 37-43. In the second half Columbia turned up the defensive pressure and forced 13 Blue Raider turnovers. 

The Lady Cougars shot 36.8 percent from the field and out rebounded Lindsey Wilson 48-47 for the game.

Amber Lewellen led the Columbia attack posting 21 points.  LeAnn Fossum tallied 19 points and five rebounds.  Whitney Widaman posted 14 points, while Danielle Riekeberg led the Lady Cougars on the board with 10 rebounds. 

Columbia returns to the court this weekend as they take part in the Midland Lutheran (Neb.) College Classic.  The Lady Cougars will take on Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) University on Friday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m.  Depending on the results from Friday's game, Columbia will play in either the Championship game at 3 p.m. or the Consolation game at 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar volleyball team remained at No.5 in the final 2006 NAIA Top 25 Poll, which was released earlier today by the national office. The Cougars, who are 39-4 on the season and pulled in 247 points.

National America (S.D.) University kept their season-long hold on the top spot, pulling in 11 first place votes with a record of 35-0.  Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University is second with a 28-1 record. Concordia (Calif.) University is third followed by California Baptist University. 

Region V rival Missouri Baptist University jumped one spot in this week’s poll from No. 11 to No. 10. 

The Cougars host the Region V semifinals and finals this weekend in the Arena of Southwell Complex. On Friday, Nov. 17, Missouri Baptist will take on Lindenwood University at 5 p.m. and Columbia will play William Jewell (Mo.) College at 7 p.m.  Should the Cougars prevail, they will play for the Region V title on Saturday at noon. The winner of Region V Tournament will receive an automatic invitation to the NAIA National Tournament in Columbia, Mo. on Nov. 29 through Dec. 2. 

November 14, 2006
College of the Ozarks tops Cougars in Point Lookout
Cougar volleyball squad advances to semifinals

Point Lookout, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar men’s basketball team came up short on the road tonight, falling to non-conference foe College of the Ozarks (Mo.) by a score of 53-67. The Cougars move to 2-3 on the season.

The Cougars struggled from the start and trailed the Bobcats 24-28 at the half. The second half was more of the same, as Columbia had trouble scoring and gave up 16 turnovers for the game.

Columbia shot 36 percent from the field in the contest compared to the Bobcats 47 percent.  

Leading the way offensively for Columbia was DeAndre' Carroll and Mikel Fields with 10 points a piece. Fields added seven rebounds.

The Cougars return to action on Thursday, Nov. 16 when they host Park (Mo.) University at 7 p.m.

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar volleyball squad advanced to the semifinal match of the Region V tournament tonight, downing eighth-seeded Benedictine (Kan.) College 30-21, 30-22 and 30-19. The top-seeded Cougars improve to 39-4 with tonight’s victory.

Tonight’s loss end’s Benedictine's season at 14-14.

Leading Columbia’s effort was Luana Branco and Rael Rotich with 10 kills a piece. Branco added 23 digs and 21 assists. Jessica Williams chipped in 12 digs

Columbia College will host both semifinal matches on Friday, Nov. 17.  At 5 p.m., the winner between No. 2 Missouri Baptist and No. 7 Graceland will take on the winner between No. 3 Lindenwood and No. 6 Baker.   At 7 p.m. the No. 1 seeded Cougars will face the winner between No. 4 seeded William Jewell and No. 5 McKendree.  All matches will be played in the Arena of Southwell Complex. The Championship match will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18 at noon in the Arena of Southwell Complex.

November 14, 2006
Ashley Brawner commits to Cougars

Columbia, Mo. -- Columbia College head softball coach Wendy Spratt officially announced today that the Columbia College softball team has signed Ashley Brawner, a senior at Kirksville High School in Kirksville, Mo., to a national letter of intent to play softball for the Cougars beginning in 2008. Ashley’s sister, Rachel Brawner, will be a sophomore on the Cougar squad this season.

In her senior campaign, she posted a .318 batting average, 21 RBI's and 28 runs scored.  For her efforts in 2006, she was named All-Conference and All-District. Brawner led her team to Conference and District championships this year as well as a third place finish at the state tournament. 

Brawner joins a Columbia College softball squad that will graduate six seniors in 2007. 

 

November 11, 2006
Cougar volleyball squad wins 13th AMC tourney title in 14 years

Columbia, Mo. – For the 13th time in 14 years, the Columbia Cougar volleyball team is the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Tournament champion. The Cougars defeated No. 11 ranked Missouri Baptist University in today’s title match by scores of 30-28, 30-22, 21-30 and 30-24. Columbia, which is ranked No. 5 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, is now 38-4 on the season.

Columbia was convincing in its four-set win over Missouri Baptist, putting down 65 kills to the Spartans' 55. Juliana Quadrado and Rael Rotich tallied 18 kills a piece and Yi Zhang recorded 14.  Jessica Williams totaled 16 digs. Luana Branco contributed 48 assists, six kills and 28 digs.

Following the match, Missouri Baptists' Ana Mercado was honored as the league’s most valuable player. Zhang, Branco, Rotich and Alice Mucheke were recognized as first team all-conference recipients, and Quadrado pulled in honorable mention accolades. Yi Zhang also received the AMC Freshman of the Year award and Luana Branco received Setter of the Year honors.

As the AMC champions, Columbia will be the top seed in the Region V playoff and host a quarterfinal match-up on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. The Cougars will host both semifinal matches on Friday, Nov. 17 at 5 & 7 p.m. and the championship match on Saturday, Nov. 18 at noon.

All Conference - First Team
Ana Mercado  - Missouri Baptist University
Luana Branco - Columbia College
Tracey Abell - Missouri Baptist University
Rael Rotich - Columbia College
Yi Zhang - Columbia College
Shannon Swiney - Missouri Baptist University
Cody Dempster - McKendree College
Alice Mucheke - Columbia College
Danielle Crossen - University of Illinois-Springfield
Allison Degroot - McKendree College
Audra Roach - University of Illinois-Springfield
Brittney Lukasek - Missouri Baptist University

All Conference - Honorable Mention
Sky Wade - William Woods University
Juliana Quadrado - Columbia College
Megan Naborowski - University of Illinois-Springfield
Lindsey Nagl - Harris-Stowe State University
Kristen Smith  - William Woods University
Randi Tyler - Missouri Baptist University
Marcy Gibson - McKendree College
Ashlee Lukasek - Missouri Baptist University
Courtney Goodwin - Williams Baptist College
Kari Boeckman - Hannibal-LaGrange College

Player of the Year - Ana Mercado  - Missouri Baptist University
Setter of the Year - Luana Branco - Columbia College
Libero of the Year - Tracey Abell - Missouri Baptist University
Freshman of the Year - Skye Wade - William Woods University
Newcomer of the Year  - Yi Zhang - Columbia College
Coach of the Year -  Melinda Wrye-Washington - Columbia College
Regular Season Champions - Columbia College
Tournament Champions - Columbia College
 

November 9, 2006
Volleyball Cougars advance to championship match of AMC tournament

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar volleyball squad moved into the finals of the American Midwest Conference (AMC) championship match tonight, defeating University of Illinois-Springfield in the semifinals by scores of 30-26, 30-23, 29-31 and 30-25. The win pushes the 5th-ranked Cougars to 37-4 on the season. The Prairie Stars end their season with a mark of 21-23.

The Cougars notched nine service aces in the contest, led by Maria Omondi with three. Rael Rotich recorded 26 kills, while Yi Zhang had 14 kills and Juliana Quadrado posted 13.  Luana Branco also tallied 53 assists and 21 digs.

Columbia will host the AMC championship match on Saturday, Nov. 11 at noon in the Arena of Southwell Complex. The Cougars will square off against the winner of McKendree (Ill.) College and Missouri Baptist University.  

 

November 8, 2006
William Jewell defeats Columbia in Region V soccer semifinal
Lady Cougars move to 3-0 with victory over Brescia

Liberty, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar soccer squad was unable to move past the semifinal round of the Region V tournament tonight, falling to top-seeded William Jewell College 0-1. The loss drops the Cougars to 11-7-1 on the season.

William Jewell dominated the first 20 minutes of the game, producing four scoring chances.  The Cougars fought back and held their own for the next twenty minutes, despite an 9-1 corner kicks advantage by the Cardinals.  With one minute and forty seconds remaining in the half, William Jewell's John Barber was able to find the back of the net, scoring the game winner for the Cardinals. 

Both teams played a close game throughout the second half, however Columbia was unable to score, leaving William Jewell with the victory.

Despite tonight’s loss, the Cougars still have the opportunity to receive an at-large invitation to the NAIA National Tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla. on Nov. 15-21.  The official bracket is scheduled for release on Sunday, Nov. 12.
 

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Lady Cougar basketball squad notched a victory tonight, dropping Brescia (Ky.) University 77-69. The win moves the Lady Cougars, who are ranked No. 25 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Rating, to 3-0.

After a slow start by the Lady Cougars, Columbia led Brescia 35-28 at halftime. The Lady Cougars managed to outscore the Lady Bearcats 42-41 in the second frame to hang on for the eight-point win.

Leading the effort for Columbia was LeAnn Fossum with 15 points. Whitney Widaman added 13 points and Megan Archuleta chipped in 12.  Amber Lewellen also posted 11 points.  Valerie Suarez led the Lady Cougars with nine boards. 

The Lady Cougars return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 15 when they host Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Arena of Southwell Complex. 



November 7, 2006
Cougar volleyball squad advances to AMC semifinals
Columbia basketball squad scores 82-54 victory

Columbia, Mo. –The Columbia Cougar volleyball team moved into the semifinal round of the American Midwest Conference (AMC) postseason tournament tonight, defeating Harris-Stowe (Mo.) State University in the quarterfinals by scores of 30-9, 30-11 and 30-14. Columbia is the top-seed in the eight-team playoff. Harris-Stowe entered tonight’s match as the eighth seed.

The Cougars, who are ranked No. 6 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, are now 36-4 on the season. Tonight’s loss end’s Harris-Stowe's season at 9-26.

Two players put down double figures in the kill category.  Juliana Quadrado and Rael Rotich each pounded 13 kills. Luana Branco and Jessica Williams notched 10 digs a piece. Branco added 29 assists.

The Cougars will play fourth-seeded University of Illinois at Springfield at 7 p.m. in the semifinal round of the AMC tournament on Thursday, Nov. 9 in the Arena of Southwell Complex.

Springfield Mo. – In men’s basketball action tonight, in Springfield, Mo., the Columbia Cougars improved to 2-2, defeating Central Bible (Mo.) College 82-54.

The Cougars controlled the contest from the opening tip and led the Spartans 42-26 at the intermission. Central Bible tried to keep up in the second half, but Columbia’s first half lead proved insurmountable, allowing the Cougars to come away with the 82-54 victory.

Brandon Crites posted a career-high 14 points. The freshman guard connected on six of his nine attempts from the field. Trae Hall and Lee Sattler also tossed in 13 points a piece. DeAndre' Carroll added 10 points. William Boatwright was Columbia’s leading rebounder with 12 boards.

Columbia is back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 14 when they travel to Point Lookout, Mo. to take on College of the Ozarks (Mo.). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

November 6, 2006
Lady Cougars move to 2-0, defeat Oklahoma Baptist 77-75 on last second shot
Soccer Cougars beat No. 15 Lindenwood in overtime

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar women’s basketball team pushed its overall record to 2-0 tonight, knocking off No. 16 ranked Oklahoma Baptist University 77-75. The loss drops the Lady Bison to 0-1.

Columbia, which is the 25th-ranked team in NAIA Division I, trailed Oklahoma Baptist 44-33 at halftime. The Lady Bison shot 48.6 percent from the field, while Columbia connected on 40.6 percent of their shots, including 11 points by Amber Lewellen.

With 13 seconds remaining in regulation, the score was knotted at 75 apiece. Oklahoma Baptist in bounded the ball and tried to connect on two shots, but were denied by the Lady Cougar defense.  Whitney Widaman came up with the rebound for Columbia with just four seconds left.  Widaman threw the ball to Whitney Davis, who flipped up an underhanded shot that dropped through the hoop to give Columbia the two-point win.

Just 18 of Columbia’s 77 points came from beyond the three-point arc in the victory. The Lady Bisons edged the Lady Cougars 53 to 38 in the rebounding column.

Lewellen notched 19 points, four rebounds and five steals in the victory. Widaman tallied 15 points, four rebounds and three assists. Rachel Davis and LeAnn Fossum were also in double figures with 11 points a piece. Dilenny Castillo led the effort for the Lady Bisons with 19 points.

The Lady Cougars return to the court on Wednesday, Nov. 8 when they host Brescia (Ky.) University at 7 p.m.

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar soccer squad defeated Region V rival Lindenwood (Mo.) University tonight in penalty kicks after a double-overtime match in the Region V tournament quarterfinals.  The Cougars improve to 11-6-1 on the season.  Tonight’s loss drops the Lions to 13-5-1 on the season. Lindenwood is currently ranked No. 15 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll.

Both teams went scoreless through regulation time and the golden goal overtime period, sending the contest to penalty kicks.  Each team scored four of the first five penalty kicks, pushing them into sudden death.  Columbia was successful on their first three sudden death attempts, Lindenwood's third shooter hit the crossbar to give the Cougars the victory. 

Zach Clem got the win in goal for the Cougars. Clem posted three saves. 

With tonight's win the Cougars move on to the Region V semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 8.  Columbia will face William Jewell (Mo.) College, the No. 4 ranked team in the NAIA and the No. 1 ranked team in the Region.  Game time is set for 7 p.m.



November 4, 2006
Cougar basketball defeated in championship game

Olathe, Kan. - The Columbia Cougar men’s basketball team lost in the championship game of the MidAmerica Nazarene Tip-Off Classic, falling to the host school 60-93.  Tonight’s result drops the Cougars’ overall record to 1-2 on the season.

MidAmerica Nazarene (2-0) is ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll and is the second ranked Division II opponent to defeat the Cougars this season.  Last Wednesday Columbia was defeated by No. 18 Lindenwood University 62-71 in the Cougars’ home opener.

Brock Perkins scored 24 point and was named to the All-Classic team.  Sean Washington added 13 points.    William Boatwright posted a double-double for the Cougars with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Columbia committed 20 turnovers in the first half and trailed 52-25 heading into the locker room.  The Cougars finished the game shooting 45% from the field, dishing out only seven assists and committing 23 turnovers.  Columbia did win the rebounding battle 29-28. 

MidAmerica Nazarene shot 66% from the field and committed only seven turnovers while dishing out 23 assists.

Columbia returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 7 when they travel to Springfield, Mo. to take on Central Bible College (CBC).  Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.  The Cougars defeated CBC twice during the 2005-06 season by the scores of 87-57 and 86-43.

November 4, 2006
Volleyball Cougars finish AMC play with perfect 14-0 record

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar volleyball team finished out American Midwest Conference (AMC) regular season play today with a perfect 14-0 record.  The Cougars defeated the Eagles from Williams Baptist College in three games, 30-24, 30-15, 30-26, to improve to 35-4 on the season.  Williams Baptist drops to 13-19 overall and 5-9 in league play.

Rael Rotich led the way with 15 kills. Yi Zhang tallied 12 kills and nine digs.  Juliana Quadrado ended with nine kills, 21 digs and 11 blocks.  Luana Branco added 34 assists and 13 digs. 

The Cougars, who are the sixth-ranked team in the NAIA, begin postseason play as the number one seed in the AMC Postseason Tournament.  Columbia will host their quarterfinal match on Tuesday, Nov. 7 against the number eight seed.  First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 

November 3, 2006
Cougar basketball edges out Haskell

Olathe, Kan. - The Columbia Cougar men’s basketball team improved to 1-1 tonight, picking up a 57-53 victory over Haskell (Kan.) University in the first day of the MidAmerica Nazarene University Tournament in Olathe, Kan. 

Leading the way for Columbia was Brock Perkins with 14 points. Trae Hall and Mikel Fields added 11 points a piece.

Columbia returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 4. The Cougars will play in the championship game of the MidAmerica tournament against MidAmerica Nazarene.  Tip-off is slated for 8:00 p.m.




November 3, 2006
Lady Cougar Basketball signs North Platte senior forward

Columbia, Mo. -- Columbia College women’s basketball coach Mike Davis officially announced today that the Lady Cougar basketball program has signed Jessica James, a senior at North Platte High School, to a national letter of intent to play basketball next season.

James, a 6’0” forward is entering her final season at North Platte, and has already accumulated 751 career points while leading the Panthers to an average of 22 wins over the past three seasons.  James was named All-Conference and All-District during her sophomore and junior seasons.  James was also named First Team Coaches’ All-State as a junior, guiding the Panthers to the Class 2A Final Four and an overall record of 26-5. 

James averages 11 points and seven rebounds per game. 

Davis and the Lady Cougars (1-0), ranked No. 25 in the preseason poll, open their regular season home schedule on Monday, Nov. 6 when they host No. 16 Oklahoma Baptist University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

November 1, 2006
Cougar men’s basketball squad falls to Lindenwood
Volleyball squad nets three-game win over McKendree
Lady Cougar basketball squad logs decisive win in season debut

Columbia, Mo. - In men’s basketball action tonight the Columbia Cougars dropped their first contest of the 2006-07 season, falling to Lindenwood (Mo.) University by a score of 62-71. The loss drops the Cougars to 0-1 on the season.

Columbia trailed the Lindenwood, which is ranked No. 18 in the NAIA Division II Preseason Ranking, by a score of 22-21 at the

half. The two teams played closely throughout the second 20 minutes of play, but the Cougars were unable to pull ahead, conceding the match-up to the Lions.

Mikel Fields led the way with 19 points. Brock Perkins added 16. Trae Hall chipped in 10 points in the effort.  Fields also led the Cougars in rebounding, pulling down 11 boards.  Ryan Steinhoff dished out four assists.

The Cougars travel to Olathe, Kan. for their next contest on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4.  On Friday, Columbia faces Haskell (Kan.) University at 6 p.m.  Should the Cougars prevail, they will advance to the tournament championship on Saturday.

Lebanon, Ill. - The Columbia Cougar volleyball team knocked off McKendree (Ill.) College in Lebanon, Ill. tonight, defeating the Bearcats in three straight games by scores of 30-21, 30-24 and 30-19. The Cougar volleyball squad moves to 34-4 overall and 13-0 in conference action with the win.

Rael Rotich led the charge for Columbia, totaling 24 kills. Yi Zhang posted 11 kills, while Juliana Quadrado added five blocks. Luana Branco notched 42 assists on the night.

The volleyball Cougars return to action on Saturday, Nov. 4 when they travel to Walnut Ridge, Ark. to take on Williams Baptist (Ark.) College in an 11 a.m. conference match.


Salina, Kan. - The Columbia Lady Cougar basketball squad opened the 2006-07 campaign with a win on the road tonight, downing Kansas Wesleyan University by a score of 74-53. Columbia, which is ranked No. 25 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll, is 1-0.

Columbia led the host squad 30-27 at halftime. The Lady Cougars managed to outscore Kansas Wesleyan 44-26 in the second 20 minutes to secure the 21-point win.

Three Lady Cougars totaled double figures, led by Amber Lewellen with 34 points.  LeAnn Fossum and Whitney Widaman added 14 a piece.  Fossum led her team on the boards, pulling in nine rebounds. Danielle Riekleberg recorded seven blocked shots.

The Lady Cougars play their home opener on Monday, Nov. 6.  Columbia hosts Oklahoma Baptist University at 7 p.m. in the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 

November 1, 2006
Soccer Cougars advance to Regionals

Columbia, Mo. - The Columbia Cougar soccer squad will play in the Region V quarterfinals on Monday, Nov. 6.  The Cougars will host the match-up that begins at 7 p.m. at R. Marvin Owens Soccer Stadium.  Columbia is 11-6-0 on the season and is currently receiving eight votes in the final Top 25 Poll of the season.  Columbia's opponent on Monday is yet to be determined.

 

November 1, 2006
Volleyball holds at No. 6 for the fifth week

Columbia, Mo. - The Columbia Cougar volleyball team holds the No. 6 position in the NAIA Top 25 Volleyball Rating, released today by the national office, for the fifth consecutive week.  The Cougars were 1-0 last week, notching a victory over conference opponent Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) College.

Columbia is 33-4 overall and 12-0 in league play. The Cougars received 266 points. National American (S.D.) is in first place with 325 points.  Coming in at No. 2 is Fresno Pacific (Calif.), followed by California Baptist, Concordia (Calif.) and Dickinson State (N.D.).

The volleyball squad is in Lebanon, Ill. tonight taking on McKendree (Ill.) College in a 7 p.m. AMC match-up. The Cougars will play their final regular season contest on Friday, Nov. 4 when they travel to Walnut Ridge, Ark. to take on Williams Baptist (Ark.) College at 11 a.m.