Pride handle Columbia College 78-62

COLUMBIA, Mo - In their final non-conference tune up before beginning Heart of America Athletic Conference play next week, the Clarke University women's basketball team handled Columbia College by a final of 78-62 on Tuesday night.

The Pride played one of their most complete games in the early part of the season, shooting 52 percent from the field and holding the Cougars, a team receiving votes in the NAIA preseason poll to just 38 percent from the field.

"We were able to get in a groove tonight and that's because we came out in the first quarter and executed," head coach Courtney Boyd said.

CU was able to outscore Columbia in each of the first three quarters including a defensively stout 19-6 first quarter advtantage for the fifth instance of the season of the Pride defense holding a team to single digits in a quarter this season.

For the second-straight game, Emma Kelchen was the game's leading scorer as she dropped 17 points coming off of her 21-point performance last Saturday against Governors State. Kelchen added four rebounds as she shot 8-for-10 from the field and knocked down her only three point attempt of the game.

Tuesday marked the return to the floor of senior guard Giana Michels as she sat out the first four games of the year recovering from offseason surgery as she came off the bench to score four points, grab four rebounds, and add two assists.

Both Nicole McDermott and Mya Merschman finished in double figures for Clarke as all of Merschman's 10 came in the first half and McDermott stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, a game-high seven rebounds, four assists, a block, and a steal.

The Pride were very balanced offensively with 11 of the 14 players who took the floor for CU recording at least a point in the game as Taylor Haase and Izzie Peterson both scored well off the bench with nine and eight respectively.

"It definitely helped when you're able to knock down a few shots early," Boyd said, "but when we move the ball and play inside-outside we are a much better team."

Though they will be away from game action for a week when they host Grand View University next Tuesday at the Kehl Center for a 6:00 p.m. CT start, Clarke women's basketball will hope their 5-0 start moves them up in the next NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll that will release tomorrow morning.