Here’s a recap of Lyon College men’s and women’s basketball action Saturday against the Columbia College Cougars from Matt Jagodzinski, the sports information director at Lyon College:
No. 18 Scots’ winning streak snapped by No. 2 Cougars
The 18th-ranked Lyon College women’s basketball team had its 11-game winning streak come to a halt as the second-ranked Columbia College (CC) Cougars snapped it with a 59-51 win in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Game of the Week. Lyon, which had not lost a game since its season-opener on Nov. 3, fell to 11-2 (7-1 AMC), while CC improved to 12-2 (7-2 AMC).
The Scots got off to a fast start against the visiting Cougars on Saturday afternoon as Madison Riley opened up the scoring with a three-point play before a three-point play by Katie Turner and a pair of buckets by Samantha French gave Lyon a 10-0 lead. The Cougars finally found their way onto the scoreboard nearly four minutes into the first quarter after a pair of free throws by Raegan Wieser. After CC pulled back within six points midway through the quarter, Lyon answered back with a 6-0 run capped off by a layup by Marleigh Dodson to increase its lead to 12 at 16-4. Columbia scored the final four points of the quarter on a bucket each from Jordan Alford and Ashlee Marlatt as the Scots led, 16-8, after the first 10 minutes.
The two teams traded buckets for much of the second quarter as the Scots lead hovered between five to seven points throughout the period. Wieser added a three-point play for CC just before the half to cut the deficit to four at 26-22.
Lyon would see its lead grow back to eight three minutes into the third quarter after a pair of free throws by French and a three by Liz Henderson. Columbia began to work its way back into the game with the help of one of its leading scorers. Alford knocked down a three at the 5:17 mark and accounted for the next 10 points for the Cougars that gave Columbia its first lead of the game at 40-37. A free throw by Riley ended the Cougars’ run momentarily as Columbia would add a basket each by Weiser and Sarah Walters in the final minute of the quarter.
The Cougars opened up the fourth quarter with an 11-2 run and took a 55-40 lead over the Scots with 4:46 remaining. Lyon would not go down without a fight as Henderson rattled off five straight points before a three by Riley and a free throw by Keli Romas brought the Scots back with six points. Columbia would go on to hit its final four free throws down the stretch to hold off the Scots.
Henderson led the Scots with a team-high 16 points, while French and Riley chipped in 12 and 11, respectively. Wieser finished with a game-high 25 points for the Cougars.
The Scots will wrap up a six-game homestand on Tuesday night when they welcome Central Baptist College to town at 5:30 p.m.
Men’s basketball topped By Cougars, 67-56
A 12-0 run by Columbia College proved to be the difference in the game as the visiting Cougars defeated the Lyon College men’s basketball team, 67-56, on Saturday afternoon inside Becknell Gymnasium. Lyon dropped to 8-6 (3-4 American Midwest Conference) after the loss, while CC improved to 8-6 (4-4 AMC).
A 12-0 run midway through the second half which was started by a three-pointer by Braden Wendel and capped off by a layup by Landon Harrison gave the Cougars a 60-39 advantage after only leading, 31-30, at halftime. The Scots made a game of it late with the help of their bench as Eric Koludrovic and Zalek Sharp hit a jumper each before a three-pointer by Brandon England started a big run for Lyon. Antanas Krimelis followed with a pair of free throws before Blake Bradshaw and England added three more points each, but the Cougars ran the clock out to earn the win over the Scots.
The first half proved to be very competitive between the two teams as neither squad led by more than five points until back-to-back buckets by Bradshaw gave the Scots a 28-22 lead with 3:23 left in the first 20 minutes. The Cougars went on to end the half on a 9-2 run to take a one-point lead at the break.
Bradshaw led the Scots offensively with 13 points, while Eric Moses added 12. Thibault Benabid earned a double-double for the Cougars as he finished with a game-high 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Scots will end their three-game homestand on Tuesday night when they welcome Central Baptist College to Becknell Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m.
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