University of Missouri
Illinois State
Tigers Extend Winning Streak to Five
12/17/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2000
Normal, Ill.-The University of Missouri extends its season winning streak to five games and boosts its overall record to 8-1 collecting a 20-point victory over Illinois State. The Tigers downed the Redbirds 83-63 to lead the MU-ISU series record 11-4-taking their fifth sequential victory.
The Tigers played the game from the inside capitalizing in the paint. In the first half, MU only downed 2-of-12 shots from the periphery while hitting 12 shots on the inside. Freshman Evan Unrau and senior Amanda Lassiter led the team in the period each posting nine points to give MU a 44-31 lead going to intermission.
Illinois State fought back early on in the second half bringing the score within four points, but it was the closest the Redbirds would get in the game. A block by Marlena Williams and back-to-back layups by Lassiter brought fire back to the Tigers' offense. Three sequential turnovers by Illinois State also helped the Tigers put four points on the board. Overall, the Tigers netted 12-of-17 shots from the paint, while only hitting 2-for-12 from the field in the second period.
Lassiter, who returned after a week of rehabilitation for a sprained knee suffered against Saint Louis, led Missouri with 28 points. She also had nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Unrau scored her second double-double on the season with 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. And, Tracy Franklin hit her seventh double-digit game of year with 14 points.
"We knew we'd have our hands full with Illinois State and we're happy to get away with a win," MU Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "Amanda came back at a whole new level this season. She made everything that happened out there for us tonight. Every team needs play makers and that is what she's done all year."
