COLUMBIA, Mo. – In a pivotal AMC matchup, the fifth-ranked Stephens College Stars took down the fourth-ranked Cottey College Comets with a 61-48 victory on Saturday afternoon in Silverthorne Arena. The win extended the Stars' streak to five games and solidified their position as a contender in the conference.
Chu Crockett delivered her fifth double-double of the season, leading the charge for Stephens (12-7, 9-4 AMC) with 26 points on 12-for-18 shooting and 10 rebounds. LaiJanique Perry-Ellis added 11 points, while Aushara Hostetler sparked the offense with three three-pointers, finishing with nine points.
Both teams opened with tough defense, and points were hard to come by. Crockett powered through the paint for two early buckets, and Alonna Harvey-Williams added a late layup to keep the Stars within striking distance, trailing 12-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The Stars took control in the second quarter with a stifling defensive effort, holding the Comets to just four points. Crockett dominated inside with five points and two rebounds, while Taylor Norris nailed a clutch three-pointer late in the period. LaiJanique Perry-Ellis added a driving layup to send the Stars into halftime with a 22-16 advantage.
Stephens turned up the heat offensively in the third quarter, outscoring Cottey 22-12. Crockett was unstoppable, pouring in 12 points in the paint, including a layup off a Perry-Ellis assist. Hostetler drained back-to-back three-pointers to extend the Stars' lead to 44-28 entering the final quarter.
Despite a late push from Cottey, who scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, the Stars held firm. Crockett added five points, including a key basket to stop a Comets run, while Hostetler hit another three-pointer to maintain the Stars' lead. Zoe Davis closed the game with a layup off a Perry-Ellis assist to seal the win.
The Stars, now riding a five-game win streak, begin a two-game road stretch on Jan. 31, traveling to Paragould, Ark., to face Crowley's Ridge College. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Fans can follow live updates at stephensstars.com.
