University of Missouri
San Diego State
Tigers Win 16th Unilever Lady Tiger Classic Title
12/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2000
Columbia, Mo.-History can sometimes repeat itself, and in tournament play the Missouri women's basketball team has proven they won't lay down for San Diego State. The Tigers rolled over the Aztecs 89-69 in the championship game of the Unilever Lady Tiger Classic taking their tournament record with SDSU to 2-0.
Missouri relived some of the previous year's excitement when they downed San Diego State 85-61 in the Pacific Bell Classic. The Tigers and the Aztecs also relived some similar problems as both games were plagued with turnovers. SDSU had 32 turnovers in the Pacific Bell Classic, this time around, both teams recorded 22 possession losses.
The game was destined to be a showcase for MU senior Amanda Lassiter from the tip-off. She hit double digits within seven minutes of play, downing two 3's and two field goals to score 10 points. The Tigers latched onto the forward's scoring momentum putting several players on the board with five or more points in the first half to lead the period 40-31.
The second half creeped along, with each team only posting nine points in the first five minutes of play. Lassiter kept the game alive however, lighting up the scoreboard with a career high 31 points. The forward also set a career mark hitting five 3-pointers. She led the team with five assists, two blocks and four steals and posted her third double-double of the season leading the Tigers with 11 rebounds. Lassiter was selected as the 2000 Unilever Lady Tiger Classic Most Valuable Player.
Also topping the charts, senior Tracy Franklin recorded her third double digit game of the season with 16 points. Both she and sophomore Kerensa Barr were named to the all-tournament team, along with Renne Logan of Lipscomb, Tanisha Knight of San Diego State and Cheria Wood of Alcorn State.
"I am very pleased with the efforts of our seniors," MU Head Coach Cindy Stein says. "It's nice to have Pep back, and Tracy had some key points. Amanda was, well she was Amanda. She is a great player, one of the best in the country. We were riding her back all night."
