Cottey College opened the new year on the road Tuesday night, falling 73–45 to St. Louis College of Pharmacy in an AMC matchup. The Comets battled through stretches of strong defensive effort and a late offensive push, but a decisive third quarter from the Eutectics ultimately created the separation.

UHSP's Montasia McAllister was the difference-maker from the opening tip, scoring 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting and knocking down five threes. Her hot start helped the Eutectics build a 20–11 lead after the first quarter, and a 21–6 third period put the game out of reach.

Despite the loss, Cottey saw several bright spots—includingn the Cottey debut of sophomore guard Ava Maner, who delivered an impressive all-around performance in her first appearance in navy and gold.

Ava Maner Shines in Her Cottey Debut

Maner logged 36 minutes, finishing with:

• 9 points (4–10 FG, 1–3 3PT)

• 6 rebounds

• 4 assists

• 4 steals

• Strong on-ball defense and poise beyond her years

Her activity on both ends gave Cottey energy throughout the night, and her ability to create plays—whether attacking the lane, finding teammates, or jumping passing lanes—stood out as one of the top storylines of the game. For a debut, Maner looked confident, composed, and ready for a major role moving forward.

Cottey Leaders

• Navaeh Sanchez led the Comets with 14 points and 6 rebounds, continuing her steady scoring presence.

• Andrea Aragon added 7 points, including a three-pointer.

• Sydney Stumpf chipped in 6 points and played a team-high 38 minutes.

• Ellaina LaNear anchored the interior with 8 rebounds.

Cottey shot 37.5% from the field and an impressive 87.5% at the free-throw line, but 26 turnovers proved costly against UHSP's pressure.

Looking Ahead

The Comets (2–10, 1–2 AMC) return home looking to build on the positives—especially the emergence of newcomer Ava Maner—as they continue conference play.