December 4, 1998

COLUMBIA, Mo.- No, there is nothing wrong with Kesha Bonds. The MU senior center had not accumulated her usual lofty numbers in her first four games leading to the question, what is wrong with Kesha? All Bonds did on Friday night was tie a career-high with 25 points (11-for-14 from the floor) and grab 9 rebounds as the Tigers (3-2) defeated Texas Southern (2-5) 93-55 in the first round of the 21st Annual Mid-America Classic. Missouri will meet Louisville (4-3) in the finals on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Louisville defeated Jackson State in the earlier game, 87-58.

Despite what Head Coach Cindy Stein called "sloppy play" in the first half, Missouri took a 39-21 halftime lead. The Tigers held Texas Southern to just 24 percent (6-of-25) first half shooting and forced 19 turnovers. Junior Amy Monsees paced the Tigers in the first half with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. She ended the game with 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Missouri was much more crisp in the second half, thanks to the play of Bonds. The defending Mid-America Classic MVP tallied 18 second half points. Julie Helm, who fought through double-teams most of the first half, ended with 16 points. Missouri shot a lofty 61 percent (25-of-41) from the field in the second half while forcing eight more turnovers. Texas Southern shot just 26 percent for the game. Candace Williams led TSU with 17 points off of the bench.

Missouri scored 25 bench points in the game, including career-highs by Tracy Franklin (9 points), Angelleka Harris (6) and Marjorie Whipple (4).