Jan. 9, 2001

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Up Next
The University of Missouri women's basketball team continues Big 12 Conference play when it hosts the Texas A&M Aggies on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., at the Hearnes Center.

Mizzou goes on a two-game road tour to take-on Colorado, Sun., Jan. 14 at 2:00 p.m., and Iowa State Wed., Jan. 17 at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for Missouri women's basketball are available by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS or at the Hearnes Center ticket office.

Missouri Coverage
Missouri women's basketball is covered live on KFRU radio. David Lile, Gary Link and Jessica Jenkins offer all the action of Tiger women's hoops on 1400 AM.

Mizzou fans can also log onto the Missouri Tigers' Web site at www.MUTigers.com to get live coverage. Scroll down the left side of the MU Tigers 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 is displayed, just choose the appropriate date and hit Go! (www.broadcast.com/sports/ncaa/Missouri/WomensBasketball/).

Turn on the Radio
The Cindy Stein Show features highlights of recent games, upcoming match-up and player profiles. Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m., live from Johnny's Beanery in Columbia, Mo., Head Coach Cindy Stein dishes Tiger women's basketball. Listen on KFRU radio 1400 AM.

Missouri vs. Texas A&M
Both Missouri (10-3) and Texas A&M (11-2) enter the third game of Big 12 Conference play with a 1-1 league record. Mizzou is coming off a 13-point victory over No. 12 ranked Texas, where the Tigers kept the Longhorns to their lowest field goal average of the season (33 percent).

The Aggies opened Big 12 action with a 62-49 loss to Texas. Brandy Jones led A&M against the Longhorns with 15 points and junior Jaynette Saunders put in 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Aggies only shot 26 percent in the first half and 32 percent from the field overall. In their second league game, freshman Janae Derrick hit a jumper with one-second left on the clock to allow the Aggies to slip past Nebraska 67-65.

Players to watch in the MU-TAM game are Missouri's Amanda Lassiter and Texas A&M's Jaynette Saunders. Both players average over 20 points and 7 rebounds per game. Saunders (20.4) is third in the Big 12 in scoring and Lassiter (20.3) comes in fourth.

"Jaynette Saunders and Amanda Lassiter are two very explosive players, both have improved their shooting range and ball handling. They are two exciting players to watch. I'm not sure how much they'll be matched up, but if you want to watch two of the best players in the conference, this is a great game to watch," MU head coach Cindy Stein says.

Missouri defends a 5-0 home win streak. Last season, the Tigers had a four-game win streak snapped by the Aggies when Texas A&M defeated Mizzou 66-55 in Reed Arena (College Station, Texas). Missouri entered half time with just a two-point deficit, but were outscored by nine points in the second half.

Scouting the Aggies
Texas A&M is 11-2 on the season with a 1-1 Big 12 Conference record. The Aggies fell to Texas 62-49 and defeated Nebraska 67-65 in their league openers. Texas A&M also defeated Pepperdine 74-65 (the Tigers fell to the Waves 69-68 earlier in the season). The Aggies have played just one ranked opponent this season in Texas.

The Aggies are led by forward Jaynette Saunders who averages 20.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. She also leads the team with 20 blocks this season. Saunders ranks third in the Big 12 in points per game. Brandy Jones and LaToya Rose routinely post double figures for the Aggies. Jones averages 12.1 points and Rose averages 10.4 points per game. Toccara Williams leads the team with 87 assists and 55 steals on the year. She tied MU's Tracy Franklin with a Big 12 season single-game high nine steals (vs. Morehead State). She also owns the league single-game assist record dishing out 14 against Pepperdine.

The Aggies are battling through two injuries, Rose sat out the Nebraska game with an ankle injury and Celeria Washington, a junior center, has only played in four games this season due to a back injury.

Last season, the Aggies went 11-16 with a 3-13 conference record to finish 11th in Big 12 standings. Texas A&M was chosen to finish 12th in the conference in both the Big 12 coaches and media pre-season polls.

Series Shorts
The Tigers and Aggies are tied 2-2 in series play. Missouri won the first meeting in 1997, going 91-80 in Columbia, but surrendered the lead the next season with a 76-61 loss in College Station. Both teams win on their home court, the Tigers defeated the Aggies 68-63 in the Hearnes Center in 1999, but A&M came back to tie the series with a 66-55 home win last year.

Last Time Against Texas A&M
Missouri had a four-game winning streak snapped at the hands of Texas A&M. Missouri shot just 37 percent from the floor in a 66-55 loss to Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.

Missouri trailed 34-32 at halftime, and were outscored 32-23 in the second half. The Tigers led just one time in the second half, 35-34 at the 18:52 mark, despite tying the game twice. The Tigers were within one point of the Aggies six times in the second half, but could never get over the hump.

Texas A&M scored the next six points to open up a nine-point lead, 60-51 and converted six-of-nine free throws in the final minute-and-a-half to put Missouri away.

Despite the loss, three Tigers scored in double digits. Julie Helm led the team with 16 points, Marlena Williams scored 11 and Amanda Lassiter scored 10. Amy Monsees hit the boards for Missouri pulling down 10 rebounds.

Tigers Got Game
Missouri (10-3) opened Big 12 Conference play with a 1-1 record. The Tigers fell to No. 13 Texas Tech 82-64 in Lubbock, Texas, on Jan. 3. MU came back to defeat No. 12 Texas at home 68-52 on Saturday. The victory marks the first time Missouri has bested the Longhorns in eight outings, it is also its first triumph over a ranked team this season.

Overall, the Tigers are outscoring their opponents by an average of 17.2 points. MU averages 82.1 points per game shooting 47 percent from the field and 47 percent from 3-point range.

Rebounding Report
Mizzou is averaging 42.7 rebounds per game while keeping its opponents to just 37.5 boards per contest for a +5.2 rebounding margin. The Tigers set season highs in rebounding against Southern Illinois and Texas with 51 boards. Missouri pulled down 33 defensive rebounds against the Longhorns and a season high 22 offensive boards against Illinois State.

Assist Average
The Tigers have dished out 226 assists so far this season to average 17.4 assists per game to almost double their opponents who only average 10.7 assists per outing. In their first five games this season, the Tigers out rebounded their opponents 94-42. Missouri recorded 26 assists against Eastern Illinois (11/17) and 24 against Wisconsin-Milwaukee (12/30).

Block Breakdown
Missouri is also topping the charts with 55 blocks on the year to average 4.3 blocks per game. MU's opponents have only knocked down 35 blocks this season. The Tigers have recorded eight games in 2000-2001 with five or more blocks, including five against the Texas Longhorns.

Conference Season Highs
Missouri ranks in the Top 40 percent in Big 12 Conference statistics in 12 categories. MU is third in the league averaging 4.31 blocks per game. The Tigers are also third with a 42.7 rebounding offense, a .469 field goal percentage and 6.43 3-point field goals per game. The Tigers are fourth in scoring offense (81.2), 3-point field goal percentage (.403), offensive rebounds (15.23) and defensive rebounds (27.46). Missouri ranks fifth with a +5.2 rebounding and a 17.2 scoring margin.

In conference games only, the Tigers are second with 15.5 offensive rebounds per game. Mizzou is also third in steals (10.5), blocked shots (3.0), rebounding margin (3.5) and defensive rebounds (28.0)

? The Tigers set a 2000-2001 season high hitting 42 field goals against Eastern Illinois the mark ranks second in conference season records.

? Missouri went 14-for-14 from the free throw line against Kentucky to lead the Big 12 in single-game free throw percentage.

Tigers in the NCAA
Missouri continues to lead the country in several categories. Mizzou is 13th in the nation with an 81.2 scoring offense and ranks 16th with a 17.2 scoring margin. The Tigers also tie for 14th shooting 40.3 percent from 3-point range and rank 25th averaging 6.5 3-pointers per game.

Missouri Downs No. 12 Texas
Missouri defeated No. 12 Texas 68-52 to claim its first win over a ranked opponent this season. The 16-point triumph is the first time Missouri has bested the Longhorns in eight outings.

The game was destined to be a roller coaster ride from the tip, Texas scored the first four points before senior Amanda Lassiter downed a three to put the Tigers on the board. The first half was a back-and-forth battle. Texas led through the period, but MU never allowed the deficit to extend beyond 10 points. The teams struggled through three scoreless minutes where before Missouri broke through the static scoring four points to cut into the lead and exit the half down 24-32.

The Tigers entered the second half with a renewed fire and started the period with an eight-point run including back-to-back 3-pointers by senior Tracy Franklin and sophomore Kerensa Barr. Franklin tied the game 34-34 with a jumper off a steal by Lassiter seconds later. After the tiebreaker, Missouri sealed the win by going on six, eight and five point runs in the period.

Both Missouri and Texas shot 38.5 percent in the first half, but the Tigers came back to own the second shooting 57 percent from 3-point range and 46 percent from the field. The Longhorns shot just 27 percent in the second period. All nine Tigers on the floor scored points, while only six of 11 Longhorns were able to contribute. Tai Dillard (24 points) and Stacy Stephens (16 points) carried Texas.

Unrau Update: Big 12 Rookie of the Week
Freshman Evan Unrau, Missouri's only starting freshman, was named Big 12 Rookie of the Week after recording the third double-double of her collegiate career against No. 12 Texas. The 6-2 forward scored a career-high 18 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. She shot 80 percent from the field (8-of-10) in the game and 100 percent from the foul line.

The forward also recorded double-double games this year scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds against Southern Illinois and knocking down 14 points and 13 rebounds against Illinois State.

Unrau has scored double figures in five games, including her previous career high of 16 points against Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The forward was 6-for-7 from the field and 4-for-4 from the foul line against the Panthers. She pulled down a season high 11 defensive boards against Arkansas and nine offensive boards against Illinois State.

Unrau leads the Tigers shooting 65 percent from the field netting 47-of-72 attempts. She also owns five perfect games from the free throw line.

Unrau is second in the conference in field goal percentage and 13th in rebounding averaging 7.1 rebounds per game. She is 11th in defensive rebounds (4.46) and 15th in offensive boards (2.62). In conference games, Unrau is third in offensive rebounds (3.0), eighth in field goal percentage (.600) and 11th in defensive rebounds (5.0).

Looking at Lassiter
Senior Amanda Lassiter leads the Tigers with 20.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. In each of MU's last five outings the forward has hit above 20 points. She led the day in MU's 68-52 victory over Texas recording her fourth double-double of the year with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Lassiter has scored in double digits in all 13 games this season including setting a career high with 31 points against San Diego State. She also scored 28 points against Illinois State, netted 23 against Illinois and downed 21 points against both Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Texas Tech. Lassiter also leads MU with 43 steals.

In the Big 12 Conference, Lassiter ranks fourth in scoring (20.3) and defensive rebounds (6.08). She is fifth in steals (3.31), eighth in 3-point field goals made (1.77) and 10th in overall rebounding (7.6). In league games, Lassiter is second averaging 21.5 points and 8.0 defensive rebounds per game after two outings. She is also fifth in conference play in steals (3.0) and seventh in rebounds (8.5).

Lassiter has recorded 31 blocks this season to lead the team and top the Big 12. Lassiter set the single season blocked shot record as a junior last year with 69. Her block record this season rankes her as Missouri's sixth all-time blocks leader with 100.

Watching Williams
Marlena Williams jumped back into the MU starting line-up after taking a four-game reprieve. In her last game, the center/forward hit a season mark with eight rebounds and five steals. After a season plagued with foul trouble, she also posted a season best playing 34 minutes without a single foul.

The center/forward has averaged over 10 points in the last three-of-four games, including a season-high 19 points against Illinois. She also pulled down six rebounds and dished out four assists for a season high mark against the Illini. Williams shot 75 percent against Wisconsin-Milwaukee hitting 6-for-8 shots from the field. She downed her first 3-pointer of the season against Texas Tech.

Williams is 25th in the Big 12 Conference in overall scoring. In league play, the senior is fourth averaging 3.5 steals and 12th with 2.5 offensive rebounds per game.

Bright Spot
Natalie Bright has come off the bench as one of the Tiger's key contributors in the last three games. Against Texas, the junior scored five points and three rebounds in 14 minutes of play. She hit double figures against Wisconsin-Milwaukee and No. 13 Texas Tech. She had a perfect game against the Panthers hitting 4-for-4 from the field, 1-for-1 from 3-point range and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. In the conference opener against the Lady Raiders, Bright downed 3-for-4 from the field, was 2-for-3 from 3-point range and 5-for-5 from the foul line. She is shooting 54 percent from the field overall and hits 56 percent from 3-point range.

Bright is 12th in Big 12 Conference play with a 1.75 assist/turnover ratio. She is also shooting 75 percent from 3-point range and ranks 14th in the league in 3-point field goals made (1.5).

Barr Brief
Starting point guard Kerensa Barr is making a name for herself on the Mizzou hardwood as the go-to player. The sophomore leads the Tigers with 65 assists on the season. She averages 5.0 assists per game and hit her season high with seven against Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She ranks fourth in the Big 12 in assists per game and is sixth in the league with a 1.71 assist to turnover ratio. In conference games, Barr is 11th averaging 4.0 assists per outing.

Franklin Forecast
Senior Tracy Franklin is third on the team averaging 10.2 points. She tops the charts with a .489 3-point field goal percentage. She ranks sixth in the Big 12 in 3-point percentage and is tied in eighth-place averaging 1.77 3-pointers per game. Franklin leads the Tigers with a perfect tally from the free throw line. She has hit 11-for-11 on the season.

Victory Margin
The Tigers 96-43 win over Lipscomb tops the season as MU's largest margin of victory. Mizzou has topped seven teams by more than 20 points, including a 47-point triumph over Eastern Illinois and a 35-point win over Kentucky.

Missouri is repeating history opening the 2000-2001 season with seven 20+ wins. In 1999-2000, the Tigers also recorded seven victories scoring 20 or more points over their opponents.

Tigers vs. Ranked Opponents
Missouri's 13-point triumph over No. 12 Texas is the largest winning margin over a ranked team since the 1995-96 season when the Tigers defeated No. 20 Kansas 86-66. In the last six seasons, Missouri has claimed seven victories over ranked opponents, all in the Hearnes Center.

Mizzou in the Rankings
For the first time this season, the Tigers are receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. After defeating No. 12 Texas, Missouri received 18 votes from AP writers. The Tigers also climbed 19 spots in the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index, which ranks teams according to strength of schedule versus that of their opponents. Missouri was 63rd last week, but comes in 44th this week with a 9-3 record over Division I opponents.

Hitting the Three
The Tigers have shot 40 percent or above from 3-point range in 10 of their 13 games. Missouri hit their season high 57 percent from the 3-point arc against San Diego State when the Tigers downed 8-of-14 attempts. Bright leads the Tigers from the 3-point arc shooting 58 percent (10-of-17). Senior Tracy Franklin also posts an impressive 49 percent hitting 23-of-47 attempts.

Topping Ten
Four Tiger athletes routinely hit double-figures, including Amanda Lassiter who is 13-for-13 and has yet to hit below 13-points in a game. Marlena Williams owns nine double-digit games, senior Tracy Franklin has six and freshman Evan Unrau posts five including a career-high 18 points against No. 12 Texas.

Tiger Cheering Section
The Missouri women's basketball program is on the rise and fans are taking notice. The Tigers began selling season tickets for the first time last year and recorded over 500 season purchases in 1999-2000. Midway through this season, Missouri has upped its season ticket numbers to over 800 holders. The Tigers averaged 1,417 fans during the non-conference schedule to rank 49th in the nation in women's basketball attendance. Missouri hit its season high in its Big 12 home opener against No. 12 Texas when 2,422 fans populated the Hearnes Center for Toy Day.

Strength of Schedule
The 2000-2001 Missouri schedule is ranked in the top third of NCAA Division I schools by the WBCA/Summerville Women's Basketball pre-season poll.

Overall, the Tigers will take on four teams ranked in the Top 25 and three schools currently receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN Polls. The Tigers face No. 7 Iowa State, No. 9 Texas Tech, No. 15 Texas and No. 16 Oklahoma in Big 12 Conference action. MU also plays Baylor (87), Kansas (6) and Illinois (2).

Also adding to Mizzou's schedule, the Tigers face nine teams that made post-season play in 1999-2000. Arkansas who advanced to the semifinals of the WNIT, Texas, Pepperdine, Nebraska and Kansas each traveled to the NCAA first round and Illinois was an NCAA second round participant. Iowa State and Oklahoma highlighted in the Sweet Sixteen and Texas Tech advanced to the Elite Eight.

The Stein Scoop
MU Head Coach Cindy Stein recorded her 100th career victory this season against Lipscomb Dec. 1, 2000. Stein entered 2000-2001 with a 96-52 record as a sixth-year head coach. The Tigers 10-3 record boosts her to 106-55.

Mizzou's success this season is due to a continually evolving program under Stein. The breakneck momentum characterizing the Missouri program for the past two seasons has proven to be effective as well as exciting. Under the tutelage of Stein and her exhilarating court style, the Tigers continue to break new ground on the Missouri hardwood. Last season, the Tigers re-wrote the record books finishing the year with an 18-12 record--Mizzou's winningest season since 1992-93. The Tigers also climbed two spots up the Big 12 championship ladder to finish seventh with a 7-9 conference record despite being predicted to finish ninth by Big 12 coaches in the preseason polls during the 1999-2000 campaign.

The Tigers up-tempo offense and full court defense also guided the team to its first-ever Women's National Invitational Tournament. Mizzou hadn't seen non-conference postseason play since 1994. The Tigers won their first game defeating Evansville 84-81 but dropped out of the tournament after falling to Arkansas in a grueling 89-88 overtime loss in Fayetteville, Ark.

Stein also led Missouri to two in-season tournament titles sweeping the Pacific Bell/San Diego State Classic and the Unilever Missouri Lady Tiger Classic.

In her first season at Mizzou, Stein guided the team to a 13-15 record. Although she was not able to incorporate her trademark style of play, she set a new standard of what was to be expected of the Missouri women's basketball program.

2000-2001 Experiment
This season the Tigers take the floor with a unique crop of youthful athletes. Missouri has six "rookies" on the roster looking to help build Coach Stein's program. MU has four true freshmen in starter Evan Unrau, Tracy Lozier and Terianne Wolford, who have seen minutes in all MU games so far this season, and 6-foot-4 center Amy Loftus. Guard Wendy Okeson is a junior college transfer fresh to the Tiger program and junior Christa Millham helps the squad from the bench after taking last year off as an NCAA Division I transfer.

Big 12 Teleconferences
Big 12 women's basketball teleconferences are right around the corner, the briefings will feature seven minutes with each head coach. The first teleconference was scheduled for Jan. 9 at 10:00 a.m. Coach Stein will continue to speak at 10:21 a.m., through the rest of the teleconference schedule.

Media members wishing to dial into the conference call may contact (913) 981-5598. This number is for media use ONLY. You will be required to identify yourself with media affiliation when you access the call. The teleconference is available live on the Internet by logging onto the Big 12 Conference Web page at www.Big12Sports.com.

Other Big 12 teleconferences are scheduled for Jan. 23, Feb. 6, Feb. 20, March 2 and March 13.