March 5, 2000
2000 Big 12 Tournament
KANSAS CITY, MO
March 7-11
TELEVISION: AT&T Cable Access 20 in Columbia, Metro Sports in Kansas City (Announcer TBA), Semi-finals and Championship game: Fox Sports Net (Bill Land/Elyssa Walker-Campbell)
RADIO: KFRU 1400 AM (David Lile, Gary Link)
INTERNET: www.mutigers.com (LIVE)
ARENA: Municipal Auditorium (9,707)
Missouri at the Conference Tournament
In 23 Big Eight and Big 12 Tournaments, Missouri has reached the championship game nine times and won five titles. Kansas is the only former Big Eight school to win more tournament titles than Missouri. The Jayhawks have won six titles. The Tigers have finished as runner-up four times with an overall tournament record of 36-20.
The last time Missouri won the conference tournament was in 1994 when the Tigers finished seventh in the Big Eight Conference in the regular season and posted a 3-11 conference record. Mizzou knocked off the second seed, Kansas (ranked No. 12 in the country), 72-66 in the first round. The Tigers defeated Oklahoma State in the semi-finals, 76-68 and pulled the huge upset over second-ranked Colorado in overtime, 79-71.
Missouri broke a four-game conference tournament losing streak last season by upsetting the seventh seed, Baylor in the first round last year. It marked the first conference tournament win for Mizzou since the Big 12 Conference was formed. The Tigers fell in the second round to second-seeded Iowa State.
PROBABLE MISSOURI STARTERS
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Cl. | PPG. | RPG. OTHER | ||
| 24 | Amanda Lassiter | F | 6'1 | Jr. | 13.2 | 5.4 | 62 blocks | |
| 5 | Amy Monsees | F | 6'0 | Sr. | 10.3 | 5.3 | .823% FT | |
| 55 | Marlena Williams | C | 6'0 | Jr. | 11.7 | 5.2 | 41 steals | |
| 32 | Natalie Bright | G | 5'8 | So. | 7.1 | 3.8 | 2.8 apg. | |
| 44 | Julie Helm | G | 5'11 | Sr. | 12.0 | 4.0 | .718% FT |
OFF THE BENCH
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Cl. | PPG. | RPG. OTHER | |
| 22 | Tracy Franklin | F/G | 5'10 | Jr. | 5.2 | 2.3 | 34 assists |
| 45 | Ekpe Akpaffiong | F/C | 6-0 | Sr. | 5.5 | 3.2 | .514% FG |
| 15 | Kerensa Barr | G | 5'10 | Fr. | 3.9 | 2.5 | 2.1 assists |
| 52 | Melissa Statham | C | 6'2 | Fr. | 1.2 | 1.4 | 8.4 min/g |
Seventh-Seeded Tigers to Tangle with Colorado
The Missouri Tigers (17-10, 6-8) hope to put the final three weeks of the regular season behind them when they open play on Tuesday night against the 10th-seeded Colorado Buffaloes (9-18, 4-12). The Tigers have lost four of their last five games heading into the tournament, including an eight-point loss at Colorado less than two weeks ago.
Colorado has won two of its' last six, including the win over Missouri and another four-point victory at home against Texas. Colorado won all nine of its' games on their home floor at the Coors Event Center.
Missouri and Colorado split their two meetings this season, both ending in similar fashion. The Tigers out-played the Buffaloes late in the game in Columbia back on Feb. 12 to win the contest 65-57.
Colorado turned the tables in a must-win game for Mizzou in Boulder on Feb. 26. It was the Buffs who took it to the Tigers down the stretch to hold on for an eight-point win, 72-64.
The winner of the CU-MU matchup will face the No. 2 seed, Texas Tech, in the quarterfinals. The Red Raiders finished the regular season with a share of the Big 12 title, finishing 24-3 overall and 13-3 in the conference. One of the three Texas Tech losses came at the hands of Missouri back on Feb. 8, 52-49 in Columbia.
Missouri's Last Time Out
COLUMBIA, Mo.- The Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-11, 10-6) took over fifth place in the Big 12 Conference on the last game of the regular season by defeating the Missouri Tigers (17-10, 6-8) by a score of 80-66. The Cornhuskers overcame a 10-point second half deficit to win the ball game. Missouri finished the regular season in seventh place and will take on the Colorado Buffaloes in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City on Tuesday night.
Missouri trailed by as many as six points in the first half, but used a 6-0 run to finish the first half and took a 29-28 halftime lead. But for the first time this season, the Tigers did not win the game after leading at halftime.
The Tigers jumped out to a five-point lead early in the second half, but a Nicole Kubik (26 points, 7 steals) bucket at the 17:57 mark tied the game at 33-33. Missouri answered with another 7-0 run led by senior Amy Monsees (11 points, 8 rebounds) and junior Amanda Lassiter (15 points, 7 rebounds). Minutes later, a baseline jumper by Monsees and a three-pointer by Lassiter opened up a 10-point lead for Missouri at 47-37 with 13:58 left in the game.
That is when the roof caved in on the Tigers. Nebraska's full-court press, which hurt Missouri in the first half, got to the Tigers again. The Huskers went on 25-6 run that covered seven minutes, nine seconds to open up a 62-53 lead. Missouri turned the ball over 10 times during the run, seven of them were steals by Nebraska. Kubik recorded four of her seven steals during that span while Melody Peterson got two.
A three-pointer by Julie Helm (13 points), playing in her final home game, brought the Tigers back within six points at 62-56, but that is as close as the Tigers would get.
Albers Back in Uniform for Mizzou
Thursday night's game against Nebraksa was a little extra special for senior center Sally Albers. The 6-3 Apple Valley, Minn. native was in uniform for the first time in her career at the University of Missouri.
Albers transferred to Mizzou from Illinois last year, and according to NCAA rules, had to sit the year out.
Just weeks before Missouri's first game of the season, Albers tore both her ACL and MCL in her knee in a scrimmage on "Media Day" and was supposed to miss the entire season.
Thanks to hard work, Albers is indeed back in uniform for the first time in two years and is available to play. She entered the game with just under a minute to play on Thursday night to a standing ovation from the Hearnes Center crowd.
Albers gives the Tigers a much-needed extra body on the blocks for the remainder of the season.
Lassiter is Mizzou's Newcomer of the Year
Junior forward Amanda Lassiter has been everything the Tigers could have hoped for when she transfered to Mizzou from Central Arizona Junior College. She has been tabbed the Big 12 Rookie of the Week on three occassions so far this season.
Lassiter, who received very little notice when the pre-season votes were tallied for the Big 12 Newcomer-of-the-Year, has done it all for the Tigers through 27 games. She is Missouri's leader in scoring (13.3 ppg.), assists (3.4), blocks (64) and steals (78). She also leads the team in rebounding (5.5).
Lassiter has already broken a Big 12 record for steals in a game (11) and has set a new Missouri record for blocks in a game (7) and in a season (62).
Lassiter's 2.4 blocked shots per game ranks her in the among the nation's top 10.
Lassiter's numbers have been even more impressive in Big 12 Conference play. She leads the club in scoring at 13.6 ppg. and is posting 6.0 rebounds per contest. Lassiter has also led Mizzou on the defensive end with 47 steals and 31 blocked shots.
Numbers Don't Lie
For those statistical fanatics out there, here are some interesting numbers regarding the Missouri women's basketball team so far this season.
The Missouri Tigers have lost just one time when leading at halftime. The Tigers are 14-1 in that department and have won just twice when trailing at the half. Missouri is 1-1 when tied going into the halftime break.
The Tigers are also undefeated when they shoot a higher field goal percentage than their opponents. Missouri is a perfect 16-0 when out-shooting its opponents, and have won just one time when an opponent has topped the Tigers in that department.
Two other categories of note. Missouri is a perfect 10-0 when attempting more free throws than an opponent. The Tigers are also 15-2 when committing the same or fewer number of turnovers than their opponents.
Helm Heats Up in Stretch Run
Senior Julie Helm has literally re-written the Missouri Tiger record books in every game that she has played this season.
Helm became Missouri's all-time three-point shooter when she connected for her 117th of her career. She tallied 22 points on that night to lead the Tigers past the No. 24 Jayhawks. She enters the Big 12 Tournament with 120 career treys.
Helm moved into third place on Missouri's all-time scoring list, passing Sharon Farrah at Texas A&M. The Washington, Ind. native now has 1,889 points in her career, just 11 points away from 1,900.
Helm has been feeling it as of late. In her last five outings, she is averaging 15.0 ppg., her second-best five-game run since the conference season started.
Helm could not leave the Hearnes Center floor in her final home game on Thursday night without setting one more milestone. She became just the seventh player in school history to record 1,500 points and 500 rebounds. She collected rebound No. 500 for her career against Nebraska.
Coach Stein Rewarded Contract Extension
Cindy Stein was rewarded with a two-year contract extension by Director of Athletics Mike Alden. Her new contract will carry her through the 2004 season.
Alden said that "the University was not taking this step just because of the success on the court, but because of the total success of her program." Alden stated that Stein's student-athletes "were doing well in school and the community, as well as on the basketball court."
Fans Are Taking Notice at MU
The University of Missouri began selling season tickets for women's basketball for the first time this season. Over 500 season tickets were sold. But it has been more than the season ticket holders that are taking notice of the turnaround at the University of Missouri in women's basektball.
The Tigers drew over 1,000 fans seven times at the Hearnes Center last season. In 1999-00, the Tigers played 13 home games and drew an average of 2,091 fans.
Missouri used "Pokemon Night" on Dec. 30 to draw 2,242 fans against Wisconsin-Milwaukee. That was followed by an attendance of 2,463 for the conference opener against Iowa State.
Against Oklahoma, Missouri broke the single-game attendance mark at the Hearnes Center when 6,227 fans braved four inches of snow to support the Tigers.
Tigers Turn the Tables in the Turnover Department
She calls it 'Organized Chaos.' Cindy Stein's style of basketball is in full effect in 1999-00. Many basketball followers might compare it to the Arkansas men's "40 Minutes of Hell."
In 27 games, Missouri has forced an average of 22.7 turnovers per game. The Tigers have 336 steals as a team so far, an average of 12.4 per game. Missouri averaged just over eight steals per contest last year and totaled 243.
Dare We Say "Spurtability?"
So this SID is a Clark Kellogg fan.
Missouri has been a team that has been able to literally bury it's opponents with one big spurt.
Just ask the San Diego State Aztecs as to how devastating Mizzou's full court press can be. The Tigers took a 2-1 lead just 47 seconds into the game. In just five minutes, 11 seconds and 10 turnovers later, Missouri's lead was 25-1. The Aztecs were forced to call three of their five timeouts during that span.
Centenary also provides a sample of the Tigers disruptive press. The Ladies led Missouri 6-4. The next thing they knew, the Tigers had gone on a 34-0 run to take a 38-6 lead.
Illinois State also fell victim to the Tigers relentless press. Missouri jumped out to a 34-1 lead against the Redbirds and held ISU without a field goal for the first 13 minutes, 37 seconds of the contest. The Tigers led 3-1 and went on a 31-0 run forcing 13 turnovers in the process. At one point, ISU had 14 turnovers and had attempted just 12 shots.
And then there was Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who trailed the Tigers just 30-27 at halftime, and tied the game 34-34 before getting hit with a 37-5 run, and more impressive, a 30-0 run. Missouri found themselves up 71-39.
Most recently, the Tigers put on another impressive spurt at Oklahoma State. Down 43-36 at halftime, Mizzou began the second half with a 14-0 run covering 9 minutes, 10 seconds. OSU came back to take the lead in the game, but Mizzou prevailed in the end.
MISSOURI'S LONGEST SPURTS
- 34-0 vs. Centenary
- 31-0 vs. Illinois State
- 30-0 vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- 23-1 at San Diego State
- 14-0 at Oklahoma State
Bright Days for Missouri Point Guard
Sophomore point guard Natalie Bright has been one of the biggest factors in the vast improvement of the Missouri Tigers women's basketball team. Bright played in every game as a freshman last year and gained valuable experience, although struggling at times with turnovers.
Things have changed so far this season as Bright is playing with much more confidence and a better feel for the game. In 27 games, Bright has turned the ball over 63 times in 25.7 minutes per game. She has 78 assists and is averaging 3.7 rebounds per contest. Bright is also scoring 7.1 points per game.
Bright was the Missouri heroin three of the Tigers four victories during their four-game conference win streak. She scored 14 points, 12 in the second half to lead the Tigers down stretch on at Oklahoma State. She also added a career-high seven assists. Against Kansas State, Bright poured in a career-high 24 points, 15 of them in the second half including 7-of-12 free throws. Last Tuesday night, Bright had been held without a field goal until 30 seconds left in the game when she buried a short baseline jumper to give Missouri a 50-49 lead over Texas Tech.
Big Time Pep
If you love basketball, you love to watch Marlena "Pep" Williams play. The 6-0 junior college Kodak All-American plays hard and wants to win worse than the average player. She is what Cindy Stein calls a perfectionist, and anything less than perfection irritates 'Pep.'
Williams played her first career game for the Tigers in her own backyard in Peoria, Ill. at Bradley. Williams scored 13 points in 18 minutes and had tears in her eyes as she left the floor after fouling out.
In her Hearnes Center debut against Arkansas, some 1,300 Missouri fans got to see what 'Pep' is all about. Williams picked up her second foul less than four minutes into the game and sat out the rest of the half with 0 points and 1 rebound. Those who know 'Pep' knew what to expect in the second half.
Williams scored 21 points in the second period, 7 of them in the first 4:14 of the half. She staggered Arkansas with points in the post as well as several one-on-one moves from the top of the key.
Williams has struggled with foul trouble, but she re-emerged in a huge way in the Tigers' 52-49 upset of No. 7 Texas Tech. Williams scored all 11 of her points in the second half and turned out to be a hero in the final seconds of the game. After Missouri wentup 50-49, Pep picked off a pass and was fouled immediately. She stepped up to the free throw line and buried both free throws to give the Tigers a three-point lead.
Williams has played big in Missouri's last five games. She is averaging 13.0 ppg. and scored 17 big ones against Kansas. She is playing smarter too, fouling out just once in the last five games.
Where does this all come from? Basketball talent runs through the blood of the Williams family. Most notible is her brother Frank, a McDonald's All-American and the starting point guard for the University of Illinois.
Eight Minutes of Fame
All 5-7 sophomore guard Ali Johnston knew heading into Missouri's game against No.7 Texas Tech was that coach Cindy Stein told her to be ready. At the 16:20 mark of the second half, Johnston, averaging 5.3 mintes per game in just four appearances in Big 12 contests go the call.
Johnston entered the game with Missouri trailing 35-24. Texas Tech missed two shots and Johnston, who's career high in rebounds entering the game was two, pulled down both rebounds.
Two minutes later, the Red Raiders had a chance to go up 12, but a missed shot was rebounded by Johnston marking a new-career high in rebounds. The Tigers brought the ball up the floor and Johnston found herself open for an open jumper and drilled it to cut the lead to eight.
Missouri cut the lead to seven, when Tech missed another shot and sure enough, it was the 5-7 Johnston there for the rebound. The Tigers scored on their next possession to cut the Red Raiders lead to 37-32.
The next trip down the floor, Marlena Williams picked up a steal giving Mizzou possession. The Tigers ran a play and the ball ended up in Johnston's hands for an open three-point attempt. She nailed it, giving her a career-high five points to cut the lead to two, 37-35.
Before her eight minutes were up, the Evergreen, Colo. native added a steal and another rebound to her credit.
Monsees Last Stand
Senior captain Amy Monsees is bound and determined to make her final season at MU a memorable one. After struggling in early January with a sprained ankle, Monsees has been back to her steady self.
In her last 12 games during conference season, Monsees is averaging 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds a contest. She has scored in double-figures in nine of those games.
For the year, Monsees is averaging 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds a game. She leads the Tigers in minutes played at 28.0 per game.
New Role for Akpaffiong
Senior Ekpe Akpaffiong has had to adjust to a new role this season.After starting 59 games in three seasons for Missouri, Akpaffiong has been coming off the bench this season.
She is averaging 5.3 points per game and is shooting a team-best .514 percent from the floor. Akpaffiong is also averaging 3.1 rebounds per contest while having to guard many of MU's opponent's taller post players.
Tigers Ink Three in Early Signing Period
Missouri has already signed three blue-chip recruits in the early signing period. The Tigers inked Missouri high school standout Terianne Wolford of Nixa, Mo., Evan Unrau of Ft. Collins,Colo., and Tracy Lozier of Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kan.
Wolford, a 6-0 forward, enters her senior season at Nixa High as a three-year starter. A second team All-State selection last season, Wolford is averaging 18 points per game and is shooting over 59 percent for her career. She is also averaging over seven rebounds for her career. Wolford is a three-time, first team All-Conference pick and was named the AAU Missouri Player-of-the-Year as a sophomore. She has also been selected as an honorable mention AAU All-American.
Unrau will enter Missouri as one of the top high school players out of the state of Colorado. The 6-1 post player is a three-year starter for Rocky Mountain High School and is a two-time All-Conference performer. Unrau averaged 16.2 ppg. last year to along with 9 rebounds per contest.
Not only is Unrau a great basketball player, she is an All-State soccer goalie as well as a finalist for the state volleyball Player-of-the-Year. Rocky Mountain High won the Colorado state title.
Lozier is a 5-10 guard that can play both the point and shooting guard positions. One of the most heralded players coming out of the state of Kansas, Lozier has helped lead her team, Blue Valley North High, to two straight Class 6A state titles. She averaged 15 points, 8 assists and 7 steals last season and is a two-time Kansas City All-Metro selection. Lozier won the DiRenna Award this past season recognizing her as the top player in the Kansas City metropolitan area. She claimed the award over teammate and Nebraska signee Shahidrah Roberts, who had won the award the previous season. Lozier was also a high school teammate of current Tiger Wannette Smith.
Head Coach Cindy Stein
Missouri coach Cindy Stein enters her second season as head coach of the Missouri Tigers. Stein led her Tigers to a 13-15 record in her first season at MU and a first round Big 12 Tournament victory over seventh seeded Baylor. Missouri also knocked off the likes of Nebraska in Columbia and Oklahoma in Norman. The Tigers also came close to knocking off Big 12 Champion Texas Tech in Lubbock.
Stein's career coaching record is 95-50 as Mizzou is 17-10 in 1999-00, including an upset win over seventh-ranked Texas Tech. She spent three seasons at Emporia State University as she led her club to a 65-25 record and a trip to the NCAA Division II national championship game in 1998. Her 1997-98 team finished 33-1as Stein was selected the MIAA Coach-of-the-Year. She was tabbed National Coach-of-the-Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.