Oct. 14, 1999

COLUMBIA, MO., Oct. 14 __ - The push for Missouri women's basketball season tickets officially took off on Thursday night with the first meeting of the Tiger Tip-Off Team. For the first time in school history, the University of Missouri will sell season tickets for women's basketball. The goal of this 23-member group is to sell approximately 500 season tickets. The campaign will cover four weeks and end on Nov. 11.

Women's basketball season tickets were introduced this season following a successful 1998-99 campaign where attendance increased thanks in part to the new enthusiasm brought in by new head coach Cindy Stein. Stein's club, picked to finish last in the Big 12 by most media outlets last year, placed 10th with a 13-15 record and went on to upset 7th-seeded Baylor in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. Following the season, Stein and her assistant coaches took to the road and put together one of the top recruiting classes in the country that includes two junior college All-Americans and the Missouri State High School Player-of-the-Year. With all of this new talent joining four returning starters from a year ago, the excitement has returned to the Missouri women's basketball program.

Members of the Tiger Tip-Off Team include: Kim Barnett, Bob Almony, Jack and Donna Smith, Sally Nichols, Sarah Harper, John Lane, Tom and Susan Gray, Nellie Dodd, Lorah Steiner, Steve Bonwich, Billie Cunningham, Richard Ditter, Beth Gedden, Dottie Heuer, David Lile, JK and Artie Miller, Dr. Loren Nikolai, Vesta Voss, Russ Williams and Thomas and Susan Taylor.

Missouri women's basketball season ticket prices and packages are as follows:

Adult Season Ticket: $50 Youth (under 18): $25 Senior (60 + years): $25 Family Package of 4: $125

For more information on Missouri women's basketball season tickets, call Don Guckenberger (573-882-0714) or Shannan Phillips (573-882-0713) of the Missouri Marketing and Promotions Office, or call the MU ticket office at 1-800 CAT PAWS