Box Score Stats | A 12-0 run late in the second half turned a tight game into a big victory as the #6 Pioneers defeated the #21 Cougars 86-68 on Thursday.
MNU got off to a 12-5 lead and never trailed, maintaining a 3 possession lead throughout most of the first half. Columbia trimmed the deficit to 1 with 9 minutes left in the first half, but the Pioneers built the lead back to 12 before heading to the locker room with a 42-31 lead. In the second half, Columbia used a couple of mini runs to cut the MNU lead to 5, but an injury to the Cougars' leading scorer, Heather English, proved too much to overcome. After a collision required several minutes of attention and eventually a stretcher, English left the arena and Columbia couldn't get back into the game. The Pioneers used a 12-0 run to put the game out of reach, and held on to win by 18.
Daria Sprew was 8-9 from the floor and 4-5 from the line for 20 points. She also pulled down a game-high 6 rebounds.
Megan Balcom hit 5 threes for 15 points.
Kelsey Balcom added 13 points.
Rachel Boan had 10 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. And
Kyleesha Weston had 7 points, a game-high 9 assists, and 3 steals off the bench.
MNU is 9-1 (2-0 HAAC). The next game is Saturday at Missouri Valley (7-3, 1-1) at 2:00.
