Feb. 28, 2001
Columbia, Mo.-Going out with a bang. The University of Missouri women's basketball team said farewell to its three seniors with a 78-61 triumph over No. 17/21 Colorado. The victory takes Mizzou to a 19-8 season record with a 10-6 Big 12 Conference mark. All three of MU's seniors, Amanda Lassiter, Tracy Franklin and Marlena Williams scored in double figures as the Tigers recorded their best season record since 1982-83 when MU also finished 19-8.
Missouri recorded its most conference wins since the 1989-90 season as a member of both the Big 12 and Big Eight Conferences. It is the Tiger's first winning record as a member of the Big 12. The game also marks Mizzou's winningest record on their home court since 1982-83 when it was 11-0 and finished 15th in the Associated Press Poll. The Tigers round out 2000-2001 with an 11-1 record. The win is MU's second over a ranked opponent this season.
The Tigers started the game with a nine-point run to dominate the game from the tip. Colorado came back to score four points, but Mizzou kept the Buffaloes at bay going on 10-0 stint. Freshman Terianne Wolford scored six points with back-to-back 3-pointers to add fuel to the fire and helped Missouri maintain a minimum 10-point lead throughout the half.
Colorado came back from intermission with a frenzied effort to cut MU's lead. The Buffaloes rallied for seven points to bridge the gap 39-32, but the Tigers weren't to be defeated. Missouri shot 61.5 percent in the second period to best Colorado shooting 53 percent overall. The Tigers also out rebounded the Buffaloes 42-to-29.
The Tigers played a well-rounded game both defensively and offensively allowing five Mizzou athletes to post double figures. Lassiter led the team with 16 points, Williams scored 13 and Franklin netted 10 points and had six assists in their final game in the Hearnes Center. Sophomore Kerensa Barr was second on the team with 14 points and pulled down a career-high eight rebounds. She also had six assists. Sophomore Wannette Smith had a breakthrough game scoring a career-high 10 points shooting 57 percent from the floor (4-of-7). The forward played 20 minutes also bringing down five rebounds. Junior Natalie Bright played solid at point guard. She scored nine points hitting 3-for-3 from the floor including a 3-pointer.
Mizzou finishes fifth in Big 12 Conference standings. The Tigers will face the No. 12 seeded Texas A&M Aggies in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament next Tuesday at 2:20 p.m.