Nov. 24, 2000

Tiger Travel
The University of Missouri women's basketball team (2-0) travels to Malibu, Calif., to compete in the Pepperdine Classic Sat.-Sun., Nov. 25-26. The Tigers join Houston, Kentucky and Pepperdine in the two-day tournament.

The event begins on Sat., Nov. 25 at 5:00 p.m., in a game between Pepperdine and Houston. Missouri follows at 7:00 p.m. when they face Kentucky.

The two defeated teams from Saturday's games play in the consolation bracket at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, and the winners round out the tournament in a following game at 3:00 p.m.

Travel Itinerary
On Wed., Nov. 22, the Tigers depart St. Louis, Mo., on TWA flight #37 at 11:40 a.m., and arrive in Los Angeles, Calif., at 1:41 p.m. On their return flight, Mizzou departs Los Angeles on Nov. 27 at 12:55 a.m. on TWA flight #166. The Tigers arrive in St. Louis at 6:20 a.m.

While in California, hotel accommodations will be provided by the Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel (818) 707-1220.

Tiger Coverage
Missouri women's basketball is carried live on KFRU radio. David Lile and Jessica Jenkins offer all the action of Tiger women's basketball on 1400 AM. Due to possibly conflicting broadcast times with the Missouri men's team in the Alaska Shootout, the Tiger women's basketball game on Nov. 25 versus Pepperdine will be aired on KWWC radio.

Mizzou fans can also log onto the Missouri Tigers' website at www.MUTigers.com to get live coverage. Scroll down the left side of the MUTigers main page and select Audio/Video. On the following page scroll down and select the women's basketball internet broadcast option. When the schedule of Mizzou women's basketball games will be displayed, just choose the appropriate date and hit Go! (www.broadcast.com/sports/ncaa/Missouri/WomensBasketball/).

Scouting Mizzou
Two games into the season, the Tigers are averaging 92.5 points per game and dominating their opponents with a 29.5 scoring margin. The Tigers are shooting 52 percent from the field, 49 percent from 3-point range and 63 percent from the penalty line. The powerful Missouri defense has kept their opponents to shooting just 36 percent from the field and 29 percent from the 3-point arc.

The Tigers average 22.5 rebounds per game while leaving their opponents with just 8.5 dishes per match. Mizzou also boasts 14.0 steals, 4.5 blocks and a turnover margin of 7.5.

Last Game for Missouri
Sometimes all it takes is the right mindset, and the Tiger women's basketball team has proven that they're ready to take on the best. The Tigers downed the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks in a 79-67 victory. Missouri shot 51 percent from the field, 47 percent from 3-point range and 50 percent from the freethrow line to defeat Arkansas. But despite posting great offensive numbers, the real winner in the game was an outstanding Tiger defense. MU kept Arkansas to shooting just 33 percent from the field and 24 percent from the 3-point arc. Mizzou also forced 22 turnovers and captured nine steals to best the Lady Backs.

The game started as a back and forth battle where neither team seemed to be able to capitalize. Unsuccessful shots and defensive rebounds turned the first nine minutes of the match into a 12-12 tug of war. The Tigers then turned up the heat and went on a 15-point streak before Arkansas could find the net. In the first period, Mizzou hit over 54 percent from all areas of the field to leave the half with a 43-31 lead.

In the second period, Mizzou came out with the same intensity, running a strong two-three-zone defense. They hit 45 percent from the field and 38 percent from the 3-point arc and kept Arkansas below the 35 percentile in both categories during the second half. Despite pulling down 42 rebounds and capturing 21 Tiger turnovers, the Lady Backs were unable to overpower the Mizzou defensive strategy.

The game was heated from the tipoff, as the rivalry created last season was re-ignited. While no players fouled out of the game, Arkansas committed 22 penalties and Missouri came up with 21.

Looking at Lassiter
Senior Amanda Lassiter emerged as the star in Mizzou's victory over Arkansas, starting the season with a double-double. The forward scored 22 points and captured 11 rebounds, including eight defensive boards. She also dished out five assists and three blocks.

"I thought Lassiter played like an All-American," Arkansas Head Coach Gary Blair said. "Now that she's able to go outside, she's the whole package."
MU Head Coach Cindy Stein agrees, "Lassiter is a perimeter player. She wanted to take over tonight and she did. She is one of the most well rounded players I've seen in a long time."

Lassiter leads the Tigers averaging 19 points per game. She is also recording eight boards per match. She was second on the team in scoring against Eastern Illinois with 16 points. She also owns eight assists, five blocks and four steals.

Stepping Out
Guard/forward Tracy Franklin has put another standout game under her belt this season as the Tigers' second leading scorer against Arkansas with 16 points. The feat set her just two points shy of her career-high of eighteen points set against Eastern Illinois last Friday. The game boosts the senior into second-place for the Tigers averaging 17 points per game. She is shooting 72 percent from the field, netting 13 of 18 attempts and also posts a .635 3-point average hitting five of eight shots. Franklin averages four rebounds per game and has seven assists and four steals to date.

Sophomore Standout
Kerensa Barr scored 12 points against Arkansas and led the Tigers with six assists and five steals. The sophomore has stepped into the season as Mizzou's starting point guard and is quickly proving herself capable. Barr is second on the team with 11 rebounds and averages 5.5 boards per game. She is also shooting 67 percent from the field and free throw line. Barr leads the Tigers with 12 assists and nine steals and comes in fifth, averaging 11 points per game.

Watching Williams
Senior Marlena Williams started the season with back-to-back games in the double digits. Against Eastern Illinois, she downed 12 points shooting 46 percent from the field. She also grabbed four rebounds in the game and offered up two blocks. Against Arkansas, the center found 11 points for the Tigers.

Overall, Williams ranks third on the team averaging 11.5 points per game. She also comes in second with two blocks.

Freshman Fire
Freshman starter Evan Unrau led the Tiger defensive effort against Arkansas with 12 rebounds, including 11 defensive boards. She scored seven points in the game and dished out two assists. She also shot 75 percent from the field making three-of-four. Unrau leads the team with 17 rebounds, including 14 defensive boards, to average 8.5 rebounds per game. She also leads the team with an 87 percent field goal percentage. She has scored 18 points this year to average nine points per game.

Tiger Tidbits
?, Freshman Tracy Lozier is fourth on the team averaging 11 points per game. She is shooting at 75 percent from the 3-point arc and 50 percent from the field.

?, Sophomore Wannette Smith led the Tigers with a career-high eight rebounds against Eastern Illinois. The feat topples Smith's previous record of six rebounds against Colorado last season.

?, Head Coach Cindy Stein inches another win closer to her 100th career victory. Stein entered the season with a 96-52 record as a sixth-year head coach. The two Tiger victories to date boost the coach to 98-52.

?, The Tigers' 79-67 win over Arkansas ended a four-game Lady Razorback streak and boosts Mizzou's series record with the Backs to 3-4.

Scouting Kentucky
The University of Kentucky owns one win on the season against Miami. The Wildcats overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half to defeat Redhawks 77-71. Freshman Stephanie Stoglin led four players in double digits opening her collegiate career with 19 points and nine rebounds. Junior LaTonya McDole recorded her fifth career double-double netting 15 points and 12 rebounds. She also tied her career-high with six steals. Kentucky made waves with four freshmen in the starting lineup. Despite their youth, the team was able to score 22 points from 14 Miami turnovers to make a go for the win. The Wildcats were 15-14 overall last season with a 5-9 Southeast Conference record. Kentucky tied for eighth in the league play. Kentucky is led by fifth-year Head Coach Bernadette Mattox (65-78). In series play, Kentucky leads Missouri 1-0. The Wildcats defeated the Tigers 102-84 in the Lady Kat Invitational in 1989-90.