April 12, 2000

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri women's basketball team added some much-needed height on Wednesday afternoon with the signing of 6-4 center AMY LOFTUS of Collinsville High School in Collinsville, Ill. Loftus, who resides in Maryville, Ill., averaged 20.8 ppg., 9.8 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks last season and was named Collinsville's Most Valuable Player.

Loftus was recognized as one of the top post players in the St. Louis area. She was named to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Team and was tabbed the Suburban Journals of Southern Illinois Player-of-the-Year. Loftus earned Player-of-the-Year honors from several other publications as well as Illinois All-State.

Loftus was also selected to play in several all-star games including the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and the Gerald Pilz Midwest Regional All-Star Team.

"Amy will give us a presence in the middle that we have lacking," said Missouri Head Coach CINDY STEIN. "With her tremendous work ethic and desire to get better, we look for big things out of Amy in the future at Missouri."

Loftus becomes the fourth player to sign with Missouri, the first the late signing period. She joins 5-10 guard TRACY LOZIER, the Kansas City High School Player-of-the-Year, 6-0 forward TERIANNE WOLFORD of Nixa, Mo., and 6-1 forward EVAN UNRAU, a Colorado Player-of-the-Year finalist out of Ft. Collins, Colo.