Cougars Dominate Second Quarter to Down Eutectics

The Eutectic women's basketball team was looking for its third American Midwest Conference (AMC) victory of the week, travelling to Columbia College (Mo.) on Saturday for the first of a home-and-home series with the CC Cougars. What started out looking like it might lead to the UHSP program's second-ever win against the Cougars in series history took a turn in the second quarter, instead ending in a 74-45 victory by the Cougars (14-3, 6-1 AMC).

After buckets from Samantha Matthews and Grace Beyer, followed by an and-one from Payten Foster, the Eutectics held a 7-0 lead to kick things off. They held the Cougars scoreless for nearly five minutes before Mackenzie Hess finally dropped in a three for the home team. As the Cougars warmed up and attempted to chase down UHSP, the Eutectics held them off, maintaining the lead throughout the first quarter, and dropping in two buckets by Beyer and Karsyn Morgan in the final 30 seconds to finish the period with a 17-11 lead.

UHSP scored the first point of the second quarter on Caroliena Diaz's free throw, but after that the Columbia team took control of the game. The Cougars defense forced seven turnovers and outrebounded the Eutectics 16-4 in the period, while the CC offense went 12-for-25 from the field, holding UHSP to 1-for-14. Beyer scored the only Eutectic field goal in the quarter eight minutes in, breaking Columbia's 25-point scoring run before halftime. Heading into intermission, the Cougars had turned the game around to give the home team a 38-20 lead.

The Eutectics fared better in the second half, but were unable to make up the difference from the troublesome second quarter. The Cougars maintained the momentum, outscoring the Euts 20-12 in the third quarter and 16-13 in the fourth for a 74-45 final score.

Led by Delaney Horstman's 20 boards, including 12 offensive, the Columbia team outrebounded the Purple and Gold 49 to 29 in the game. Horstman also racked up four blocks, 13 points, and four assists. Allison Stiers went 9-for-11, including three triples, for 21 points to lead the Cougar team in its 44.3% field-goal shooting, while limiting the Euts to 19-of-58 (32.8%).

UHSP's Grace Beyer was still the high scorer in the game with 27 points, going 12-for-25 overall and 2-for-3 from the arc, adding seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Samantha Matthews (5), Payten Foster (5), Alivia Simily (3), Karsyn Morgan (2), and Ellie Creasey (2) also scored for the Eutectics.

Now 8-7 overall and 3-2 in the AMC, the Eutectics will be back on their home court next Thursday, Jan. 18, hosting Central Baptist College (Ark.)(3-7, 2-3 AMC) at 5:30 p.m.