University of Missouri
Central Missouri
Tigers Lead From Opening Tip En Route to Exhibition Win
11/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2004
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Junior center Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College) led a quartet of Tigers with double-figure point totals as the Missouri women's basketball team led Central Missouri State wire-to-wire for a 71-52 exhibition win Friday night at Paige Sports Arena.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 8-0 lead on the strength of five points from N'Garsanet and a three-point field goal from senior center Megan Roney (Independence, Mo. / Truman HS).
Mizzou led by as many as 13 points in the first half, but saw its lead dwindle to nine with just over two minutes to go before the half. With 1:32 remaining and the Tigers leading 29-20, junior guard LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS) banked in a jump shot from the right wing and was fouled. She converted the free throw to put Mizzou up by 12, and they would head into the break leading by 14 (34-20).
Beginning with 26 seconds to play in the first half and continuing for the first 5:10 of the second frame, the Tigers went on a 25-8 run that saw them move out to a comfortable lead. Mizzou led by as many as 22 after the break, and never saw their lead shrink to less than 16.
Freshman guard Kassie Drew (Anna, Ill. / Anna-Jonesboro HS) scored seven of her 10 points in the second half, while classmate Crystal Howard (Omaha, Neb. / Central HS) also poured in seven of her nine after the break.
"We appreciated the attendance," said Head Coach Cindy Stein of the 2,003 fans who witnessed the exhibition. "I saw some really good things out there that I liked but I think that everyone can see that we're still very young. I think Central Missouri definitely provided what we wanted as far as a real disciplined team. I'm a little disappointed in some areas but it's not anything we can't fix, so that's encouraging."
The Tigers forced 25 CMSU turnovers, including 17 in the first half, and scored 31 points off the Jennies' miscues. Mizzou also won the battle of second-chance points, 11-2. N'Garsanet, who swatted three shots, led a Tiger defensive front that recorded 10 blocks.
N'Garsanet led the Tigers, and tied Fromm for the game high, with 20 points, while also ripping down 14 boards to tie sophomore forward EeTisha Riddle (O'Fallon, Ill. / O'Fallon HS) for the team lead. Bond contributed 14 points, five rebounds and three assists, and Roney carded 11 points and six rebounds, for Mizzou.
N'Garsanet's double-double is her first in a Mizzou uniform, but does not count toward her career numbers because the game was an exhibition contest.
The Tigers officially begin their 31st season of play next Friday and Saturday at the KCRG-TV 9 Hawkeye Challenge in Iowa City, Iowa. Mizzou plays Northern Illinois on Friday at 3 p.m., and on Saturday will either play Iowa at 1 p.m. or Southern Illinois at 3:30 p.m.
