Junior Amanda Lassiter was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.Junior Amanda Lassiter was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
Women's Basketball

MU's Lassiter Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

March 3, 2000

COLUMBIA, Mo.- Missouri's AMANDA LASSITER was named the Big 12 women's basketball Newcomer of the Year on Friday afternoon by the Big 12 coaches. The junior transfer from Central Arizona Community College led the Tigers to a seventh place finish and a 17-10 overall record, Mizzou's winningest season since 1992-93.

Lassiter is Missouri's leader in nearly every statistical category this season. She leads the club in point per game (13.3), rebounds (5.5), assists (3.4), blocks (64) and steals (78). The San Francisco, Calif. native leads the Big 12 in blocked shots (2.37) and is fifth in steals (2.89)

Lassiter was tabbed the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on three different occasions this year. She also set a Big 12 record for steals in a game with 11 (at San Diego State on Nov. 27) and a Mizzou single-game and season record for blocked shots (7 and 64).

Overall, Lassiter was a third-team All-Big 12 selection. Joining her is senior JUNIOR HELM, who earned honorable-mention honors. Helm, Missouri's third all-time leading scorer, is averaging 12.1 points per game. She is the Tigers' all-time leading three-point shooter and free throw shooter. Helm has been named to an All-Conference team each of her four seasons at Missouri.

2000 Coaches All-Big 12 Team

First Team

Phylesha Whaley, Oklahoma

Edwina Brown, Texas

Stacy Frese, Iowa State

Lynn Pride, Kansas

Nicole Kubik, Nebraska

Second Team

Keitha Dickerson, Texas Tech

Jennifer Crow, Oklahoma State

Stacey Dales, Oklahoma

Angie Welle, Iowa State

LaNeishea Caufield, Oklahoma

Third Team

AMANDA LASSITER, Missouri

Jaynetta Saunders, Texas A&M

Megan Taylor, Iowa State

Jenny Roulier, Colorado

Desiree Francis, Iowa State

Honorable Mention

Nicole Collins, Baylor

Suzi Raymant, Kansas

Brooke Reves, Kansas

Jaclyn Johnson, Kansas

Jennifer Jackson, Kansas

Angie Finkes, Kansas State

Nicky Ramage, Kansas State

Olga Firsova, Kansas State

JULIE HELM, Missouri

Brooke Schwartz, Nebraska

Prissy Sharpe, Texas A&M

Melinda Schmucker-Pharies, Texas Tech

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Phylesha Whaley, Oklahoma

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: AMANDA LASSITER, Missouri

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Plenette Pierson, Texas Tech

COACH OF THE YEAR: Sherri Coale, Oklahoma