Williams Overcomes Slow Start For Road Win Over Cottey
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Williams Baptist (AR) | 10 | 19 | 36 | 21 | 86 |
|
Cottey (MO) | 12 | 9 | 11 | 24 | 56 |
NEVADA, Mo. (12/1/25) – The Williams Baptist University women's basketball team trailed after the first quarter, but stormed back to take down Cottey 86-56 in the American Midwest Conference opener on Monday night inside the Hinkhouse Center.
With several players contributing, Cha'Myrean Ellis led the Eagles' offense with 17 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field, and Chelsea Hamilton followed with 16 on a 5-of-11 clip. Joi Montgomery posted her second double-double in as many games with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Cortayza Flowers piled on 13 points off the bench.
As a unit, WBU went 36-for-77 (46.8 percent) from the field while holding Cottey to 17-of-49 (34.7 percent) shooting. The Lady Eagles dominated the rebound battle 43-28and scored 22 points off 18 Comet turnovers. WBU tallied 25 second-chance points in the win.
Both teams suffered a slow start in the first quarter, with a combined clip of 7-for-30 (23.3 percent). An eight-point swing put Cottey up 10-3 before a three-point play from Cha'Myrean Ellis broke the four-minute-long scoring drought for the Eagles. A three-pointer from Taylor Hooten and a free-throw from Hamilton tied the game, but Cottey scored to take a 12-10 lead before the end of the first quarter.
Momentum shifted in the second quarter. The Lady Eagles woke up from the floor, as a jumper from Seanlajah Smith kicked off a 12-0 run that put WBU ahead 22-12. A Hamilton jumper gave Williams a 29-21 lead at halftime.
WBU finally took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Comets 36-11 in the period. An Ellis jumper began a 22-6 run that put Williams up by 23. Cortayza Flowers made it an even 30-point lead with a jumper with 1:53 left to play in the third. Going into the fourth, WBU led the contest 65-32.
Montgomery gave the Eagles their largest lead of the day with a jumper that made it 69-32 with 8:39 left in the fourth quarter. Cottey cut into the lead in the final 10 minutes, but WBU cruised to the final buzzer to open AMC play with a win.
The win moves the Lady Eagles to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in American Midwest Conference play. Next, WBU will travel to face Columbia on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Tipoff against the Cougars is set for 5:30 from the Arena of Southwell Complex in Columbia, Mo.