Posted: Feb 15, 2019

Lady Mustangs Tie Program Wins Record With Upset of #1 Columbia

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

Columbia, Mo. (Feb. 14, 2019) – Using a balanced team effort and strong defense tonight, the Central Baptist College Lady Mustangs upset the #1 team in the NAIA, the Cougars of Columbia College, 52-50. CBC moves to 16-9 on the season and 12-9 in the American Midwest Conference, while Columbia drops to 25-3 and 19-3 in the AMC.

Alexis Augustus (JR/Baton Rouge, La.) led the way for CBC with 16 points while Sierra Carrier (JR/Eugene, Ore.) added 15 and Holly Allen (SO/Cabot, Ark.) had 12. Carrier led the way with nine rebounds and Augustus had eight. The Mustangs shot 41.1 percent from the field and 25 percent from three and held Columbia to 33.9 percent from the field and 17.9 percent from deep. CBC also won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Cougars 42-33 in the contest.

"It was a well balanced game," said head coach Lyle Middleton. "Our ladies off the bench played a huge role on the defensive end. Sierra (Carrier) played her best game of the year to establish the post and Augustus finished with 16 points and eight boards that were huge toward the end of the game."

The Lady Mustangs opened the game on a 9-0 run over the first 4:26 and led by a 16-11 margin after one quarter thanks to six points from Allen. Columbia cut the lead to three to open the second, but CBC would stretch the lead back out on a three by Carrier and a layup by Carrier to lead 21-13 with 6:27 left in the second. Columbia would cut the lead to five twice, but CBC extended the lead each time, and headed into the locker room leading 27-20 at the half, led by nine points from Carrier.

Neither team scored for the first 2:57 of the third quarter before Augustus made the lead nine with a basket. Columbia then answered with a 12-3 run to tie the game at 32 with 3:27 left in the third. The teams went back and forth form there, with CBC eventually retaking the lead and holding it 38-35 headed to the fourth.

The final quarter started with back to back baskets by Columbia, a two and a three, to give them a 40-38 lead with 8:14 left. CBC would come right back to tie it before another Columbia three gave them a 43-40 lead with 7:48 left. The teams traded baskets for the next 7:45 with neither team leading by more than three at any point. Allen's game winning jumper in the paint with four seconds left gave CBC a 52-50 lead and the Cougars missed a three at the buzzer to secure the upset.

CBC continues their final AMC road trip of the regular season on Saturday with a visit to Fulton, Mo., to take on William Woods. Tip-off for that game is at 1 p.m. and the Lady Mustangs will be going for the season sweep.