University of Missouri
Nebraska
Tiger Women Get 70-65 Overtime Win In Lincoln
2/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2005
LINCOLN, Neb. - Sophomore forward Carlynn Savant (Euless, Texas / Trinity HS) earned her first career double-double, and led four Tigers in double-figure scoring, as Missouri captured a 70-65 win over Nebraska on Saturday evening at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. It is Missouri's first overtime win since a three-point triumph in the first round of the 2003 WNIT against Western Illinois.
Savant had 11 points and a game- and career-high 14 rebounds, and sophomore forward Tiffany Brooks (Leavenworth, Kan. / Leavenworth HS / Kansas State) had 18 points to lead all scorers. Junior center Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College) had a game- and career-high six assists, and added 10 points for the Tigers (10-16, 4-11 Big 12), who won their fifth straight game in Lincoln.
Kiera Hardy had 15 points for Nebraska (16-11, 8-7), which had four players in double figures.
"I think that's the highest I've jumped in a long time," Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "Our kids were fighting hard. It was a real physical game. For us to win on the road in overtime, it takes a total team effort, and we got that tonight."
The Tigers hit their shots from the start, making nine of their first 16 attempts - including 4-of-5 from 3-point range - in taking a 22-8 lead just seven minutes, 22 seconds into the contest. That included three treys alone from Brooks, who had 11 points to that point. Missouri also hounded the Huskers into 5-of-17 shooting (29.4 percent) in the first eight minutes.
The Huskers stormed back, though, throwing a 13-2 run against the Tigers to pull within 24-21 with 7:03 left in the half. Jelena Spiric had a steal and a coast-to-coast layup, and then converted a pair of free throws in that span, while Mizzou was just 1-of-8 from the field.
Freshman guard Kassie Drew (Anna, Ill. / Anna-Jonesboro HS) canned the Tigers' fifth 3-pointer of the half, and then junior guard LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS) converted a 3-point play on a driving layup for a 30-23 advantage. Yet Nebraska got a 3-point play from Kiera Hardy, and a desperation 3-pointer from Jina Johansen with the shot clock running down at the half to pull NU within one (35-34) going into the break. The Tigers went without a field goal for the final 4:27 of the half, yet did convert five of eight free throws.
After Elena Diaz gave Nebraska a 36-35 lead to open the second half, Mizzou reeled off seven straight points - capped by a 3-point play from sophomore forward EeTisha Riddle (O'Fallon, Ill. / O'Fallon HS) - to restore a five-point lead. Jessica Gerhart scored Nebraska's next eight points to give NU a 45-44 lead with 11:48 left, and despite not getting a field goal for the final 8:45 of regulation, Nebraska hit six free throws for a 56-50 lead with 4:02 to play.
Riddle hit three straight buckets, though, the last coming to tie the game with 1:56 to go. After a held ball gave possession to Nebraska, N'Garsanet hauled in a missed Gerhart hook. Riddle then canned a turnaround jumper with 28.8 seconds left, and NU called a timeout with 24.7 to go. Jina Johansen was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play, and hit two free throws.
In the overtiume, Spiric hit a free throw before Brooks scored on back-to-back possessions. Riddle canned another jumper, and then Brooks, Riddle, Savant and Bond combined to hit six of eight free-throws down the stretch.
The Tigers close out the regular season on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. tipoff against Kansas State. Seniros Megan Roney and Shea Swoboda will be honored in pre-game ceremonies as part of their last home game. For tickets, call 1-800-CAT-PAWS (573-884-PAWS in Mid-Missouri), visit the Mizzou Arena Box Office, or www.mutigers.com.
