Spires Drop to Cougars to Start 2023

Columbia, Mo.- The University of Saint Mary Women's Basketball team hit the road to take on the Columbia Cougars Sunday, losing by a score of 98-79. The Spires are now 8-6 overall on the year.

Tanea Sims opened the scoring for Sait mary with a three-pointer, and shortly after that, Alanis Delgado also sunk a three. Both players would combine to score the first 13 points for the Spires. They kept Saint Mary in the game, and halfway through the opening quarter, USM was down 14-13. Kaylani Hoskin made two crucial baskets to end the first quarter in a 29-29 tie. Columbia began to display its offensive prowess late in the second quarter with a 12-2 scoring run that gave them a ten-point lead heading into the break.

The Spires opened the second half with a run of their own that saw four straight threes, including two from Paige Pendley. This brought Saint Mary within one point of the Cougars, with the score being 60-59. Columbia then scored seven quick points and held an eight-point lead. Sims hit a three just under the two-minute mark, which kept the Spires within ten points heading into the final quarter. Jerrica Johnson hit a three shortly after the start of the fourth quarter and brought the Spires within two of Columbia. However, the Cougars answered once again with a 13-point scoring run that gave them an 84-70 lead with under five minutes to go. Saint Mary was unable to overcome the 14-point deficit and lost by a score of 98-79. Pendley led the Spires with 17 points on the night, while Sims had 13 points and eight total rebounds.

Up Next

Saint Mary will resume KCAC play with a home matchup against Oklahoma Wesleyan at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Ryan Sports Center.