University of Missouri
Texas A&M
Missouri Wins in Big 12 Tournament First Round
3/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 7, 2001
Kansas City, Mo.-The University of Missouri women's basketball team advances to the second round of the Big 12 Tournament after defeating Texas A&M 75-65. The win boosts the Tigers to 20-8 on the year with a 10-6 league mark. It is the best record MU has posted since the 1989-90 season when Mizzou won the Big Eight championship with a 20-8 record and an 11-3 conference mark. It is the second Big 12 Tournament first round win for the Tigers-they defeated Baylor 60-55 in 1999.
Missouri's game was literally a steal a minute through the first half of the inaugural period. Freshman Evan Unrau started her game with a bucket and a steal to help the Tigers to a 7-2 lead after two minutes of play. The rest of the team followed in her stead grabbing six more steals before the 11-minute mark. Missouri hit a span of jittery play where they were not able to score. Despite a solid rebounding effort by the Aggies, including 11 offensive boards, Texas A&M was unable to catch Missouri before the halftime buzzer.
A&M struggled through the game after two of its starters were injured during the first half. Center Lynn Classen played only two minutes before being helped off the court following a knee injury. Texas A&M leading scorer Jaynetta Saunders was also sidelined during the first half. She was carried off the floor at 15:41 not to return.
Despite the loss of two of its premier players, Texas A&M reentered the second half with determination. Guard LaToya Rose stepped up to score 18 points in the game hitting 8-of-19 from the floor, including two 3-pointers. Missouri sputtered through the start of the second half allowing the Aggies to rally on a six-point run and bring the game within four points. A 3-pointer by senior Tracy Franklin helped revamp the Tigers lead and ignited a six-point run. Although Texas A&M kept the pressure constant, repeated fouls by both teams decided the game on the free throw line. Missouri shot 86 percent from the charity stripe (25-29), while Texas A&M scored just 11 points (11-15) from the foul line.
Senior Marlena Williams led the Tigers with 18 points and four assists. She also pulled down nine rebounds and tied her career-high netting eight free throws. Amanda Lassiter and Kerensa Barr also posted double figures with 13 points. Freshman Evan Unrau led the Tigers with 11 rebounds. It is her second double figure rebounding game against the Aggies and her seventh of the season. Sophomore Wannette Smith scored eight points, just two shy of her career-mark scored against Colorado last Wednesday.
The Tigers face No. 4 seeded Colorado tomorrow at 2:20 p.m. Missouri is 1-1 against the Buffaloes on the season. MU defeated CU 78-61 in their last meeting.
