Box Score SPRINGFIELD, MO — February 12, 2026
Mission (MO) women's basketball struggled to keep pace with Columbia College on Wednesday night, falling 81-57 in a home conference matchup. The Lady Patriots battled early but were unable to slow the Lady Cougars' balanced scoring and depth, as Columbia pulled away in the second half.
Pregame
Mission (11-13, 7-7 conference) came off a 63-43 win over Hannibal-LaGrange and aimed to defend home court against the undefeated Lady Cougars (23-1, 14-0), who had just beaten UHSP 101-66. Earlier this season, Columbia had won the first matchup in Columbia, 83-54.
Game Summary
Mission jumped out to an early 13-8 lead in the first quarter behind strong play from Miya Nieto and Jayla Kirksey. The Lady Patriots used active defense and hustle on the boards to keep Columbia from pulling away immediately. Columbia slowly chipped away at the lead, using outside shooting from Tori Rubel and inside scoring from Mya Miller to take a 28-23 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, Columbia extended their advantage, but Mission stayed competitive with baskets from Nieto, Kirksey, and Autumn Gunter. The Lady Patriots had several offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities, keeping them in striking distance at 45-39 midway through the quarter. Columbia's depth and efficient shooting, however, allowed the Lady Cougars to gradually build a double-digit lead.
The fourth quarter saw Mission continue to fight, with contributions from Ashtyn Callaway and Kirksey keeping the Lady Patriots on the scoreboard. Mission scored 15 points in the final frame, but Columbia outscored them 31-15 to secure the 81-57 win. Despite the loss, Mission showed effort on both ends, particularly in key stretches where they pressured the ball and converted turnovers into scoring opportunities.
Stat Leaders – Mission (MO)
Postgame
The Lady Patriots drop to 11-14 overall and 7-8 in conference play. Despite the loss, Mission showed scoring contributions from multiple players and maintained competitive stretches against one of the top teams in the conference.
Next Up
Mission travels to face Williams Baptist for a conference matchup on Saturday, February 14, at 1:00 PM.
