Jan. 4, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's basketball team, which is off to a 9-2 start this season, opens its Big 12 Conference season Sunday against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla.

*Sunday's Game - MU at Oklahoma State, 2 p.m., Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, Okla.

The Foe: Oklahoma State enters the game with an 8-5 record. The Cowgirls defeated Prairie View A&M, 77-42, Wednesday. Head coach Dick Halterman is in his 19th season at OSU with a record of 325-223. Halterman's teams have played Missouri 35 times with MU winning 18 of those meetings.

The Series: Missouri leads the series by a 23-17 margin. The Oklahoma State media guide has Missouri leading 22-18 with the game in dispute being a 1976 Big Eight Conference Tournament game in Manhattan, Kan. A newspaper account and other Missouri records have MU winning 67-62 while OSU counts it as a 67-62 win. Oklahoma State leads the series in Stillwater, winning seven of the 12 games there. However, MU won the last matchup at Gallagher-Iba, a 77-73 decision on Feb. 2, 2000. The Tigers are a perfect 3-0 against Oklahoma State under the direction of head coach Cindy Stein.

In Big 12 Openers: Missouri has not had good starts in Big 12 Conference play. Since the inception of the Big 12, Missouri has not yet won its first game of the league season. In fact, this season's game at Oklahoma State marks the fifth time in six seasons that MU has opened Big 12 play on the road.

Last Year: Missouri used 21 offensive rebounds to overcome 31.9 percent field goal shooting and defeated Oklahoma State, 65-62, in Columbia. MU opened the game with seven unanswered points. Amanda Lassiter led Missouri with 20 points while Tracy Franklin, whose layup gave MU a 44-42 lead (which it would not relinquish), added 14 points, eight rebounds and four steals.

MU's Last Time Out: Kerensa Barr scored the game's last seven points to lead Missouri to a 79-72 win over Wisconsin-Green Bay. Barr finished the game with team-high honors in points (15), rebounds (seven), assists (nine, tying a career high) and blocked shots (one). Missouri used an 8-0 run in the first half to take a 38-35 lead and needed a 14-2 second-half rally to take a 68-65 lead. UW-Green Bay tied the game, 72-72, before Barr nailed a 3-point field goal with 53 seconds remaining and added four free throws for the final margin. Evan Unrau and Natalie Bright each added 13 points while Melanie Fisher scored 10 points, all in the second half.

Not Much Pine Time Here: Kerensa Barr played all 40 minutes in the Tigers' win over UW-Green Bay and Evan Unrau played 39 of 40 possible minutes. Barr becomes the first Tiger in the past two seasons to play all 40 minutes in one game. She had last season's high of 38 minutes against Arkansas (11/20/2000). Tracy Franklin played 42 minutes in MU's overtime win over Kansas last season (2/10/2001). Julie Helm was the last Tiger to play all 40 minutes in a game as she did so against Baylor (3/2/1999) in Big 12 Conference Tournament action.

Out of Poll: Missouri did not receive a vote this week's Associated Press or USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches polls. MU's lack of an appearance in the AP poll snaps a streak of five straight showings in that poll. The Tigers had received votes for three consecutive weeks in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches poll but that streak ended with the Dec. 25 poll.

Nearing 500: Missouri has won 493 games in its 28 seasons and could become the 50th NCAA Division I program to surpass the 500 win total. As of Thursday, Maine and Notre Dame each have also won 493 games. Illinois State and Middle Tennessee are also in the race as each school has won 491 games.

Tough At Home: The Tigers are an impressive 258-81 during their 27 seasons in the Hearnes Center. Missouri has won its last 18 non-conference home games. Missouri has won 20 of its last 21 overall games at the Hearnes Center and posted a home mark of 7-1 in the 2001 Big 12 Conference season.

Among NCAA Leaders: Missouri ranks third among NCAA Division I schools in free throw percentage in the statistical report released by the NCAA through Dec. 17 games. Missouri has made 142-of-181 free throws for a 78.45 percent mark. In the individual rankings, Kerensa Barr ranks 13th in free throw percentage. Barr also was ranked 50th in scoring, averaging 18.25 points per game. Here's a listing of the Tigers' rankings:
*Free throw percentage, 3rd, 78.45 percent (142-of-181)
*Rebound margin, 13th, +9.88
*Won/loss percentage, 24th, 87.5 percent
*Scoring margin, 24th, +15.75
*Scoring defense, 30th, 57.75 ppg

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 187-of-245 foul shots for a league-best 76.3 percentage mark. In the last report, MU ranks second in scoring defense, allowing opponents 59.5 points per game. Kerensa Barr now leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage (92.3 percent). Evan Unrau leads the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage (51.9 percent).

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

Television Coverage: The Tigers are 3-0 on TV this season after the win over Saint Louis on Dec. 7. MU takes a brief hiatus from the bright TV lights until the Missouri/Kansas tilt on Jan. 12 at Kansas. That game will be shown on Fox Sports Net.

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 nine times in its 11 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 five times this season. They are:
*23 - vs. UMKC
*24 - vs. SMS
*32 - vs. Davidson
*27 - vs. Northern Iowa
*23 - vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

In addition, Missouri has shot 80 percent or better 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. SE Missouri
*81.8 percent (27-of-33) vs. Northern Iowa
*88.5 percent (23-of-26) vs. Ark.-Pine Bluff

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

Scoring Power: The Tigers' starting five average 75 percent of the team's scoring per game (616 of 822 points). MU has used four different starting lineups this season. They are (in alphabetical order):
*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 62-39 with Missouri and is 127-64 in seven seasons as a head coach. Stein, who has an all-time mark of 22-26 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 156-of-199 free throws for a mark of 78.4 percent. Barr is on a record pace of 92.3 percent (60-of-65) this season. Bright has made 73 to rank fifth in her career all-time at Missouri while Barr has made 42 3-point field goals to rank seventh. Bright ranks fifth with 211 3-point field goal attempt. Barr ranks seventh with 123 attempts. Bright ranks eighth in 3-point field goal percentage at 34.6 percent while Barr is ninth at 34.1 percent. Barr and Bright both rank in the Tigers' all-time career lists for assists. Barr's 258 rank seventh while Bright's 253 career assists rank eighth

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 82.92 CollegeRPI.com ranks the Tigers 39th (.5996). Collegiate Basketball News also has MU 41st at .5976. In the Dec. 31th WBCA/Summerville RPI Rankings, MU was 42nd (.5914). Missouri moved up to 39th (.59198) in the Jan. 3 edition.

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, #4 Iowa State, #7 Baylor, #9 Texas Tech, #14 South Carolina, #16 Colorado, #22 Texas and (RV) Kansas State - are ranked in the Associated Press poll and the eight (although in a different order) - #3 Iowa State, #4 Oklahoma, #8 Baylor, #11 Texas Tech, #14 Colorado, #15 South Carolina, #20 Texas and (RV) Kansas State - are in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches poll. Tigers are currently 1-0 against schools (MU 61, SMS 57) which are receiving votes or are ranked 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 34th 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 Oklahoma State, it would ...
*push head coach Cindy Stein's record at MU to 63-39
*give MU its first-ever 1-0 mark in Big 12 Conference play
*raise the Tigers' mark in the series against Oklahoma State to 24-17
*give Missouri 494 all-time victories
*improve Missouri's record to 10-2 this season

Who's Next? Missouri meets nationally ranked Texas Tech on Jan. 9 at the Hearnes Center. MU plays Kansas on Jan. 12 in Lawrence.

Big 12 Numbers: Here's a look at this week's Big 12 statistical report (from games through Jan. 3) for all games:

Scoring - Kerensa Barr, 7th, 16.9 ppg, Evan Unrau - 13th, 14.6 ppg

Rebounding - Evan Unrau, 8th, 7.1 rpg, Melanie Fisher, 10th, 6.5 rpg, Kerensa Barr, 11th, 6.5 rpg

Field Goal Percentage - Melanie Fisher, 3rd, 59.4 percent (38-of-64), Evan Unrau - 12th, 51.3 percent (59-of-115)

3-point FG Percentage - Evan Unrau, 1st, 51.9 percent (14-of-27)

3-point FG Made Per Game - Natalie Bright, 13th, 1.55 per game

Free Throw Percentage- Kerensa Barr, 1st, 92.3 percent (60-of-65)

Steals - Kerensa Barr, 6th, 2.36 spg

Assists - Kerensa Barr, 7th, 4.73 apg, Natalie Bright, 13th, 3.82 apg