University of Missouri
Providence
Tigers Take Third With 81-48 Win Over Providence
11/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2004
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Freshman G Kassie Drew (Anna, Ill. / Anna-Jonesboro HS) canned four 3-pointers on her way to a game- and career-high 20 points to lead Missouri to an 81-48 win over Providence in the consolation game of the Airport University Inn Thanksgiving Tournament.
Drew got 14 of her points in the first 13 minutes of the game, going 6-of-7 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers for Mizzou (2-2). In addition, junior G LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS) tied her career high with nine assists, which matches the best effort by a Tiger in the last five years, to go with five steals. A day after sophomore F Carlynn Savant (Euless, Texas / Trinity HS) shattered her career rebounding high with 13 boards, she broke her scoring output with 15 points Saturday night at The Pit.
Danielle Howard led the Friars (0-4) with 15 points, while Shauna Snyder added 13. Providence was plagued by 28 turnovers, 16 of which were forced by Missouri. The Tigers countered with just 11 turnovers against 23 assists.
Head Coach Cindy Stein shook up the starting lineup in the wake of Friday night's 19-point loss vs. host New Mexico, and the new quintet - Drew, Savant, junior F Cherice Mack (St. Charles, Mo. / St. Charles HS), sophomore Blair Hardiek (Effingham, Ill. / Effingham HS) and freshman Crystal Howard (Omaha, Neb. / Central HS) - responded with a bang. Providence took a brief 3-2 lead 66 seconds into the game, but the Tigers threw a 10-0 run at the Friars leading into the first media timeout. Drew hit a pair of back-to-back 22-footers, then added a baseline jumper for a personal 8-0 run in that span, while Mack accounted for the other two baskets in MU's opening 12-3 lead.
In fact, Drew and Mack combined to make their first seven field-goal attempts in the game's first 10 minutes. With their help, the starters staked the Tigers out to a 19-3 lead without committing a turnover.
After a couple of PC baskets, Mizzou's lead increased when sophomore F EeTisha Riddle (O'Fallon, Ill. / O'Fallon HS) hit a pair of baskets, and Drew followed with two of her own for an 8-0 run and a commanding 34-8 lead.
Providence fought back, though, going on a 10-0 run and out-hustling the Tigers for a span of nearly four minutes. Yet junior C Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College) scored MU's last six points, including a 3-point play with 1:04 left in the half. Her run gave the Tigers a 44-23 lead going into the break. Missouri shot 53 percent (19-of-36) from the field, while limiting the Friars to 36 percent (9-of-25) and 12 turnovers.
After Providence's Danielle Howard had back-to-back baskets to open the second half, Drew hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Mizzou a 23-point lead at 50-27. An N'Garsanet 3-point play kept the lead at 23, but Providence went on an 8-0 run over the next 2:01 to trim the margin to 15 points - the smallest of the game since late in the first half.
But the Tigers would not break, going on a staggering 14-0 run of their own to take a 71-42 lead and seal the win.
"I was very pleased with the team. They gave me the effort I was looking for tonight," Stein said. "They did some really nice things, and they made the adjustment to their zone at halftime. We still had some setbacks, but I think we've got something to work with. Kassie took good shots until the last couple of minutes, but she had a great game. It is a big confidence-builder for her."
The Tigers return to Columbia for their 2004-05 home opener Tuesday night against Evansville. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Mizzou Arena. Tickets remain available and can be purchased at the Mizzou Arena Box Office, by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in Mid-Missouri) or online at www.mutigers.com.
