Columbia College women's basketball player gets win No. 102 as a Cougar

COLUMBIA —  When asked about passing win No. 100 in a Columbia College uniform, Kirsti Wilkerson sticks to the team-first mentality preached by her coach.

"I've been blessed with a lot of great teammates, and they've helped me be successful," she said. 

As the only non-transfer senior on the women's basketball team, the forward became the seventh member of Columbia College's Century Club, made up of players with 100 wins or more over 4 years.

Wilkerson was a 2008 graduate of Skyline High School in Urbana, where she was named to the All-State basketball team her senior year.

Wilkerson says she has been playing basketball since she was 2 and hopes to eventually return to the game as a coach.

"As soon as I could start dribbling a basketball, that's what I did," she said. "I love the game and I'm going to do whatever I can to stay in the game."

While she originally came to Columbia College because she liked its size and the basketball coaches, Wilkerson says her teammates have been the best part of her experience.

"They're like my second family," she said. "I'm really close to home, but being here and being with my teammates, I feel like I'm home."

In a season full of injuries, Columbia College coach Mike Davis praised Wilkerson for her resilience.

"She's had a lot of injuries she's battled through and still was a great part of all our teams," Davis said. "Part of it's just showing up every day."

Wilkerson will be recognized on-court with her family at the Cougars' next home game against Missouri Baptist on Friday.

Meanwhile, she notched win No. 102 on Thursday as Columbia College defeated visiting Stephens College 80-45. 

The Cougars were balanced offensively, with five players in double digits. Ashley Fisher put up 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Wilkerson blocked five shots.

With the victorythe Cougars improved to 17-8 overall and 7-2 in the AMC. The Stars fell to 2-20 and 1-8 in conference.

Columbia College will travel to Fulton to face William Woods on Saturday in a battle for the American Midwest Conference lead. William Woods defeated Columbia College 69-64 in January.