Jan. 11, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's basketball team, which is off to a 10-3 start this season, continues play in the Big 12 Conference this week.

*Saturday
*MU (10-3, 1-1 Big 12) at Kansas (5-11, 0-3 Big 12)
*1 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kan.

The Foe: Kansas suffered a 68-49 loss at No. 11/No. 12th-ranked Baylor Wednesday to lose its third-straight Big 12 game. The Jayhawks have lost five of their last six games and eight of their last 10. Head coach Marian Washington is in her 29th season at the helm of the Jayhawks and has a record of 540-315. The Jayhawks are led by three seniors: guard Selena Scott, guard KC Hilgenkamp and center Kristin Geoffroy. Hilgenkamp averages a team-high 12.9 points and 3.56 assists per game. Scott averages a 12.6 points and 2.31 steals per game, while Geoffroy averages 8.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots per game.

The MU/Kansas Series: Kansas leads the series by a 32-26 margin. KU counts a game on Nov. 25, 1973, but Missouri does not recognize the game as it counts the 1974-75 season as its first official season for women's basketball. Missouri swept the series last season, winning 89-84 in overtime in Columbia before picking up a 69-55 victory in Lawrence. That performance marked the first time Missouri had won both regular-season meetings between the two schools since the 1985-86 season. The Tigers have won the past three games between the two schools. In last season's 69-55 win at Kansas, Amanda Lassiter was one of four Tigers to score in double figures as she scored 15 points.

MU's Last Time Out: For the second-straight season, Missouri upset one of the nation's top-ranked teams at home in the second game of Big 12 play as the Tigers downed Texas Tech, which was ranked 10th by the Associated Press and 12th in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches polls, by an 82-71 decision. MU, the Big 12's top free throw shooting team, sank 23-of-32 foul shots and snared 44 rebounds to Texas Tech's 31. The Tigers had 23 offensive rebounds on the night. Kerensa Barr, who ranks second nationally in free throw percentage, made all nine of her foul shots in the game. Barr sank six free throws in the game's final 49 seconds and finished with a team-high 19 points and a season-best five steals. Evan Unrau had 16 points and tied Melanie Fisher for the team lead with eight rebounds. Natalie Bright added 16 points and a game-high seven assists while Fisher netted 12 points.

Deja Vu?: Like last season, Missouri lost its first Big 12 Conference game of the season befire beating a nationally ranked team at home for its second league contest of the year. In the 2000-2001 campaign, Missouri lost its Big 12 opener season at Texas Tech, 82-64, but rebounded to pick up a 68-52 triumph over No. 12/17 Texas at the Hearnes Center. This season saw Missouri suffer a 73-57 setback at Oklahoma State and defeat No. 10/12 Texas Tech, 82-71, at home.

Long Time, No Three: Missouri went almost 33 minutes without making a 3-point field goal against Texas Tech on Wednesday. Natalie Bright finally made one with 7:24 left in the game to break the shutout. While the one 3-point field goal ties the low this season (also done against Davidson on Nov. 24), the last time MU was blanked in the 3-point field goal category was on Jan. 27, 1999 in a 78-54 loss at Baylor. Missouri's last time at home without a 3-pointer came on Dec. 5, 1998 in an 87-76 victory over Louisville. Since the Baylor game, the streak of Missouri making at least one 3-point field goal in a game is at 86 games.

Television Coverage: MU looks to take its all-time TV record this season to 4-0 when it faces Kansas Saturday. The game will be the Tigers' first of the season on Fox Sports Net. Kevin Eschenfelder and Brenda Van Lengen will describe the action.

I'm In: After playing a possible 116 of 120 minutes in three games, Kerensa Barr got a break against Texas Tech by playing 'only' 35 minutes. She has played 30 or more minutes in 10 of the Tigers' 12 games and has played a team-high total of 435 of a possible 520 minutes this season.

I'm In, Too: Natalie Bright and Evan Unrau also have logged quite a few minutes for the Tigers, playing 430 and 415 minutes, respectively, this season.

Offensive Rebounds: Evan Unrau has made the most of second opportunities this season. Of her team-high 95 rebounds, Unrau has snared 46 offensive caroms this season.

Offensive Rebounds II: Of its total 44 rebounds, Missouri grabbed a season-high 23 offensive boards in the win over Texas Tech. MU's previous high of 18 offensive rebounds came against Southeast Missouri (12/1) and UMKC (11/16).

Forcing Turnovers: Missouri has forced opponents to commit 293 turnovers this season (average of 22.5). Opponents have committed 20 or more turnovers in 10 of Missouri's 13 games this year.

Barr and Free Throws: Kerensa Barr is now Missouri's all-time career leader in free throw percentage as she has made 165-of-208 foul shots (79.3 percent). Barr's performance this season (if it ended prior to the Kansas game) would set a school record. Barr's mark of 69-of-74 free throws for 93.2 percent easily surpasses the previous mark of 84.6 percent by Lisa Plummer in the 1980-81 season. And, yes, I know this next comment will jinx the streak but ... Barr has made her last 17 free throws.

Nearing 500: Missouri has won 494 games in its 28 seasons and could become the 50th NCAA Division I program to surpass the 500 win total. However, Notre Dame won its 495th game to surpass the Tigers' total. Maine is also in the hunt as it has won 493 games.

Tough At Home: The Tigers are an impressive 259-81 during their 27 seasons in the Hearnes Center. Missouri has won its last 18 non-conference home games. Missouri has won 21 of its last 22 games at the Hearnes Center and posted a home mark of 7-1 in the 2001 Big 12 Conference season. Ranked teams have also found the going tough in the Hearnes Center. MU has defeated three of the last four ranked teams in the past two seasons. Those games are:
*Jan. 6, 2001 Missouri 68, #12/17 Texas 52
*Jan. 31, 2001 #7/8 Iowa State 73, Missouri 63
*Feb. 28, 2001 Missouri 78, #17/21 Colorado 61
*Jan. 9, 2002 Missouri 82, #10/12 Texas Tech 71

Among NCAA Leaders: Kerensa Barr ranks second nationally in free throw percentage, according to the statistical report released by the NCAA through games of Jan 7. Barr's mark of 92.3 percent (60-of-65) is second only to Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Khadijah Haqq's mark of 95.3 percent (41-of-43). After Barr's 9-of-9 showing against Texas Tech on Wednesday, her percentage improves to 93.2 percent. As a team, Missouri has made 191-of-251 free throws for a 76.1 percent mark and ranks 12th in that category. Here's a list of the Tigers' rankings:
*Free throw percentage, 12th, 76.1 percent (191-of-211)
*Rebound margin, 29th, +7.2
*Won/loss percentage, 38th, 75.0 percent
*Scoring margin, 39th, +12.5

Out of Poll: Missouri did not receive a vote this week's Associated Press or USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches polls. MU had a streak of five-straight appearances in the AP poll but it was snapped in last week's edition. The Tigers had received votes for three consecutive weeks in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches poll but that streak ended with the Dec. 24 poll.

Top Performances: Evan Unrau's 5-of-5 effort from beyond the 3-point field goal line against Southeastern Louisiana ranks as the top mark in the Big 12. Kerensa Barr's 17 made free throws (and her 18 attempts) are the most this season in one game in the Big 12. Barr's 10-of-10 effort from the free-throw line against Southwest Missouri State is one of four such performances in the Big 12 this season. Missouri's 32 made free throws against Davidson are the most this season in the Big 12.

Big 12 Stat Leaders: Missouri leads the Big 12 Conference in free throw percentage as the Tigers have made 214-of-283 foul shots for a league-best 75.6 percentage mark. MU also leads in defensive 3-point field goal percentage, allowing teams to shoot a league-low 26.5 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. The Tigers rank second in scoring defense, allowing opponents 61.5 points per game. Kerensa Barr leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage (93.2 percent). Evan Unrau leads the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage (50 percent).

Individuals in the Big 12: Here's a list of the Tigers' rankings in the Big 12 for all games:
Scoring - Kerensa Barr, 8th, 17.2 ppg, Evan Unrau, 13th, 14.8 ppg, Natalie Bright, 30th, 10.5 ppg

Field Goal Percentage - Melanie Fisher, 5th, 55.3 percent (49-of-87), Evan Unrau, 7th, 53.2 percent (74-of-139)

Free Throw Percentage - Kerensa Barr, 1st, 93.2 percent (69-of-74)

Assists - Kerensa Barr, 10th, 4.46 apg, Natalie Bright, 11th (tie), 4.23 apg

Steals - Kerensa Barr, 3rd, 2.54 spg

3-Point Field Goal Percentage - Evan Unrau, 1st, 50.0 percent (15-of-30)

3-Point Field Goals Made Per Game - Natalie Bright, 11th, 1.46 fgm/g

Assist/Turnover Ratio - Natalie Bright, 15th, 1.20

Tournament Success: Missouri won this year's Unilever Lady Tiger Tournament. The win gave MU its 17th win in 24 championship game appearances of the Missouri tournament.

100 and counting: MU scored 100 or more points for the fourth time under head coach Cindy Stein in the Tigers' 102-47 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Dec. 20. MU hung 101 points on Davidson on Nov. 25. MU has scored 100 or more points 33 times in its history. Missouri is 4-0 under Stein when topping the century mark and 32-1 all-time.

Record Setter: Kerensa Barr set the Missouri all-time record for free throws made in a game as she sank 17 against Davidson on Nov. 25. Barr's mark broke the previous record of 16 by Erika Martin against Kansas on Feb. 4, 1996.

First Win Over ...: MU's 61-57 win over Southwest Missouri State marked the first time in the program's history the Tigers have defeated a team which advanced to the Final Four the year before. MU did play defending national champion Texas Tech in the first round of the 1994 NCAA Tournament but suffered a 75-61 loss.

Let's Score 30: Missouri has scored 30 or more points 11 times in its 13 first halves this season.

State Champs: With the 64-53 win over Saint Louis, Missouri improved to 4-0 this season against the state's NCAA Division I schools (UMKC, Southwest Missouri State, Southeast Missouri State and Saint Louis). This performance marks the first time Missouri has defeated each one of the other NCAA Division I in-state schools.

Free Throws: To put it mildly, Missouri has been successful at the foul line this season. The Tigers have been getting to the free-throw line early and often this season in their wins. Missouri has made 23 or more free throws six times this season. They are:
*23 - vs. UMKC
*24 - vs. SMS
*32 - vs. Davidson
*27 - vs. Northern Iowa
*23 - vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
*23 - vs. Texas Tech

In addition, Missouri has shot 80 percent or better from the line five times this season. They are:
*82.1 percent (23-of-28) vs. UMKC
*87.5 percent (7-of-8) vs. South Carolina
*84.6 percent (11-of-13) vs. Southeast Missouri
*81.8 percent (27-of-33) vs. Northern Iowa
*88.5 percent (23-of-26) vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Put me in Coach: Ten of Missouri's student-athletes average at least eight and one-half minutes per game.

Scoring Power: The Tigers' starting five average 75.9 percent of the team's scoring per game (730 of 961 points). MU has used five different starting lineups this season. They are (in alphabetical order): *Barr, Bright, Fisher, Podratz, Unrau *Barr, Bright, Fisher, Smith, Unrau *Barr, Bright, Fisher, Lozier, Unrau *Barr, Bright, Fisher, Unrau, Wolford *Barr, Bright, Fisher, Lozier, Smith

Missouri Head Coach: Cindy Stein is in her fourth season at the helm of the Tigers. She has a mark of 63-40 with Missouri and is 128-65 in seven seasons as a head coach. Stein, who has an all-time mark of 23-27 in Big 12 regular season play, is assisted this season by: associate head coach Betsy Yonkman, assistant coach Tanya Warren and assistant coach Edith Thompson. Former Missouri standouts Amanda Lassiter, Marlena "Pep" Williams and Tracy Franklin are serving as student assistants.

Career leaders: Kerensa Barr and Natalie Bright continue to make an impact on the Tigers' all-time career charts. As a result of her outstanding performance this season from the free-throw line, Barr is now the all-time career leader at Missouri. She has made 165-of-208 free throws for a mark of 79.3 percent. Barr is on a record pace of 93.2 percent (69-of-74) this season. Bright has made 75 3-point field goals to rank fifth in that career all-time category at Missouri while Barr has made 44 to rank seventh. Bright ranks fifth with 217 3-point field goal attempts. Barr ranks seventh with 133 attempts. Bright ranks eighth in 3-point field goal percentage at 34.6 percent while Barr is ninth at 33.1 percent. Barr and Bright both rank in the Tigers' all-time career lists for assists. Bright's 266 career assists rank seventh while total of Barr's 264 ranks eighth. This information (in a table) appears in the left-hand column of this page.

Rankings: Missouri was picked by both the Big 12 Conference coaches and the media covering the league to finish 10th in the 2001-2002 league standings. The Tigers were picked 43rd nationally by Basketball News, a publication which chose the schools it feels will make the 2002 NCAA Tournament.

Rankings II: Missouri is ranked 41st in this week's Sagarin RPI rankings with a mark of 80.44. CollegeRPI.com ranks the Tigers 52nd (.5235). Collegiate Basketball News also has MU 52nd at .5801. In the Jan 7 WBCA/Summerville RPI Rankings, MU was 48th (.58001).

Radio Coverage: Missouri women's basketball is covered live on KFRU (1400 AM), KWWC (90.5 FM), KLIK (1240 AM) or on the Tiger Network. David Lile, Jessica Jenkins and Gary Link offer all the action. A majority of the Tigers' games can be found on KFRU but various games will be on KWWC and KLIK. Mizzou fans can also log onto the Missouri web site, www.mutigers.com, for coverage.

Tough Schedule: While the RPI and WBCA/Summerville rankings have one idea about the Tigers' strength of schedule, here are some facts. Eight opponents - #3 Oklahoma, #6 Iowa State, #9 South Carolina, #10 Texas Tech, #12 Baylor, #14 Kansas State, #16 Texas and #21 Colorado - are ranked in the Associated Press poll and the eight (although in a different order) - #2 Oklahoma, #5 Iowa State, #10 South Carolina, #11 Baylor, #12 Texas Tech, #17 Texas, #18 Kansas State and #19 Colorado - are in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches poll. Wednesday's game against Texas Tech marked the first time Missouri faced a ranked team this season (South Carolina was not in either poll either as a ranked school or receiving votes at the time of the game). MU's 82-71 victory over the Lady Raiders gives the Tigers a 1-0 record against ranked teams this season. That mark will be tested next against Baylor on Jan. 19 at the Hearnes Center where MU has won three of its last four meetings against ranked teams. The Tigers are currently 1-0 against schools (MU 61, SMS 57) which are receiving votes at the time of the game.

Youth is Served: Missouri's active roster of 11 consists of one senior (Natalie Bright), two juniors (Kerensa Barr and Wannette Smith), five sophomores (Tracy Lozier, Evan Unrau, Terianne Wolford, Amy Loftus and Melanie Fisher) and three freshmen (Lauren Podratz, Angie Carter and Megan Roney).

Last Year: The Tigers posted a 22-10 record and advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

Radio Show: Tiger Talk with Cindy Stein is on at 7 p.m. on Mondays. The show will originate from Harpo's and be aired by KFRU.

Signings: MU head coach Cindy Stein announced on Nov. 14 the signing of Latoya Bond and Cherice Mack to National Letters of Intent.

Fans, Fans, Fans: Missouri ranks 38th in the 2001-02 National Women's Basketball Home Attendances Poll. This poll is an unofficial and voluntary collection of NCAA Division I home attendance statistics compiled weekly by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Sports Information Office. The Tigers have averaged 1,838 fans per game this season, well above last season's average of 1,172 during the same number of home games.

A Win Would ...: If Missouri defeats Kansas, it would ...
*push head coach Cindy Stein's record at MU to 64-40
*give Missouri 495 all-time victories
*be Missouri's fourth win in a televised game this season
*cut into Kansas' lead in the all-time series, making it KU 32, MU 27

Who's Next? Missouri will play Nebraska on Jan. 15 and Baylor on Jan. 19. Both games will be at MU's Hearnes Center.