Cougars Journey to Indianapolis for First and Second Rounds

Columbia, MO – The Columbia College ladies’s basketball group will journey to Indianapolis, Indiana to compete within the NAIA Women’s Basketball First Round, introduced by Ballogy. The Cougars’ 4 group pod additionally sees Marian University (host), Carroll College, and Haskell Indian Nations University. 

Schedule

Meet the Teams
– #8 Columbia College (30-1, 18-0 AMC)
The Cougars secured the 2026 American Midwest Conference Tournament Championship with an 86-58 victory over No. 2 seed William Baptist University. Columbia received its fifth-straight AMC Tournament Championship and eleventh general in program historical past.

Columbia picked up a number of AMC awards with Lexi Miller (First Team), Ashtyn Klusmeyer (First Team), Mya Miller (Second Team), Lexi Rubel (Second Team), Lauren Friedrich (Third Team / Sixth Woman of the Year), and Tori Rubel (Defensive Player of the Year / All-Defensive Team). 

Klusmeyer (483) and Lexi Miller  (472) lead the group in scoring, whereas Lexi Rubel has had large contributions with 268 rebounds, 257 factors, 153 assists, and 41 steals.

As a group, the Cougars have made 320 3PT discipline objectives this season, rating third in the complete NAIA. 

– #1 Marian (29-2, 16-2 CL)

The Knights of Marin University earned a spot within the NAIA National Tournament after successful each the Crossroads League common season and match titles, marking the applications sixth match title in program historical past. 

Abbey McNally repeated because the Crossroads League Player and Defensive Player of the Year, changing into Marian’s third participant to earn Player of the Year in consecutive seasons, whereas changing into the primary participant in Crossroads League History to repeat as Defensive Player of the Year three consecutive seasons. In addition to McNally being named because the league’s prime participant, head coach Suntana Anderson was named because the Crossroads League Coach of the Year, incomes the dignity for the primary time in her profession. 

Marian had 5 further gamers be part of McNally on the All-CL Teams, with Taylor Double becoming a member of the senior on the All-CL First Team. Both Madisyn Bailey and Olivia Faust had been named to the Second Team, and Kenna Kirby and Kiley McNally had been named as Honorable Mention Team gamers.

– #9 Carroll (19-10, 17-5 FC)

The Fighting Saints of Carroll earned an at-large bid to the NAIA First Round as they fell to Montana Western within the quarterfinals of the Frontier Conference Tournament. Carroll is making its sixth straight look within the National Tournament. During the 2023-24 season, the Fighting Saints noticed their finest program end because the group superior all the best way to the NAIA National Semifinals. 

Jillian Kanduch was named Freshman of the Year within the Frontier Conference, whereas Kenzie Allen was awarded co-Newcomer of the Year, a spot on the All-Defensive Team, and Second Team honors; Willa Albrecht was named to the First Team. 

– #16 Haskell (14-16)  

Haskell earned its spot within the NAIA National Tournament after the Fightin’ Indians received the CAC Championship with a 66-56 win over top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College. Ona Dauphinais was named Most Outstanding Player of the match, whereas Ivy Fox and Tierzah Penn additionally made the All-Tournament Team.

Fox was named CAC Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Conference, with Dauphinais incomes First Team honors.