University of Missouri
Southern Illinois
Missouri Downs Southern Illinois 81-57.
12/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2000
Columbia, Mo.-The University of Missouri women's basketball team takes its record to 7-1, handily defeating Southern Illinois 81-57.
MU's performance was a turn around from last Thursday night when they skimmed by Saint Louis 73-63 with 18 turnovers and a 27 percent free throw average. Tonight, Mizzou forced 25 Saluki turnovers and hit 60 percent from the charity stripe.
The two teams battled through the first three minutes of play before freshman Evan Unrau was able to put in a jumper. Southern Illinois hit a three to lead by one, but a 3-pointer by Tracy Franklin put the Tigers back on top-where they would stay for the remainder of the game.
Missouri started the second half with a six-point run. But, before the Tigers could get any more comfortable on the scoreboard, forward Amanda Lassiter went down with a knee injury. She left the floor with the assistance of athletic trainer Eric McDonnell, not to return in the game.
With Mizzou's leading scorer out for the remainder, MU Head Coach Cindy Stein was forced to rely on the depth of her bench. She wasn't to be disappointed by her young squad as four players, including Lassiter, hit double digits in the game.
Unrau, Lassiter and Tracy Franklin each scored 15 points and center Marlena Williams posted 11. Unrau recorded her first double-double of her collegiate career also pulling down 10 rebounds. Franklin logged another career record this season with nine steals. The senior adds the mark to new career records in points (18) and rebounds (11) this year.
Despite playing only 19 minutes, Lassiter pulled down seven rebounds and led the team with three blocks. Team physicians have diagnosed her with a mild knee sprain. Her playing status will be made day-by-day.
"I don't think you ever want to see a kid go down," Stein said. "She (Lassiter) was having a good game. The kids responded well, however, and that is really important. Things like that are going to happen and I think it exposed our depth. Whether we get her back for the next game or not, we're going to have to be there down the stretch and will need to step it up. Tonight our intensity was good. We wanted to play with emergency and to never let up, and I think we did that."
