Jan. 8, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's basketball team, which is off to a 9-3 start this season, plays a pair of Big 12 Conference games this week. They are:

*Wednesday
*MU (9-3, 0-1 Big 12) vs. Texas Tech (9-3, 1-1 Big 12)
*7 p.m., Hearnes Center, Columbia, Mo.

*Saturday
*MU at Kansas (5-10, 0-2 Big 12)
*1 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kan.

Trading cards: Fans attending Wednesday's game will receive the first four-card block of women's basketball trading cards. There are 2,000 sets available so be sure to come early to get yours.

Hoping for Deja Vu?: Like last season, Missouri lost its first Big 12 Conference game of the season and plays 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 then 12th-ranked Texas at the Hearnes Center. This season saw Missouri suffer a 73-57 setback at Oklahoma State and now MU plays 12th-ranked (and 10th-ranked) Texas Tech at the Hearnes Center.

The Foes: One of the nation's top-ranked teams, Texas Tech enters Wednesday's game after dropping an 80-68 decision to third-ranked Oklahoma in Lubbock on Jan. 5. Texas Tech defeated Kansas, 76-54, in its other Big 12 contest this season. The Lady Raiders are ranked 10th in this week's Associated Press poll and 12th in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches poll. Head coach Marsha Sharp is in her 20th season with a record of 468-144. Sophomore guard Jia Perkins leads the Lady Raiders in scoring (15.1 ppg), assists (4.33 apg) and steals (2.42 spg). Cisti Greenwalt and Jolee Ayers have stepped up their play during conference action. Greenwalt averages 8.0 points per game overall but 14.5 ppg in Big 12 action, while Ayers averages 5.8 points per game overall and 13.5 points per game in league play. Greenwalt averages a team-best 8.3 rebounds per game (11.0 during Big 12 play). She also is the league's top shot blocker, swatting away an average of 3.0 shots per game.

Kansas plays at 11th/12th ranked Baylor Wednesday before meeting the Tigers. The Jayhawks have lost four of their last five games and seven of their last nine. Head coach Marian Washington is in her 29th season at the helm of the Jayhawks and has a record of 540-314. The Jayhawks are led by three seniors: guard Selena Scott, guard KC Hilgenkamp and center Kristin Geoffroy. Scott averages a team-high 12.8 points and 2.33 steals per game. Hilgenkamp averages 12.4 points and a team-best 3.67 assists per game while Geoffroy averages 5.4 rebounds and 1.86 blocked shots per game.

The MU/Texas Tech Series: Texas Tech leads the series against Missouri by a 5-1 margin. The Lady Raiders won last season's matchup, 82-64, in Lubbock as they had five players score 10 or more points. A boxscore of that game is in the left-hand column of this page. Missouri is 1-1 facing Texas Tech in the Hearnes Center, winning the 2000 meeting, 52-49. Natalie Bright scored with 29 seconds left to give MU the lead in that game. Texas Tech missed its first 11 shots from the field in that contest before rallying in the second half.

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. Amanda Lassiter was one of four Tigers to score in double figures as she scored 15 points. A boxscore of that game is in the left-hand column of this page.

MU's Last Time Out: Oklahoma State used an 11-0 run to open Sunday's Big 12 Conference game against Missouri. However, the Cowgirls' 41-13 run to close the game was the key in OSU's 73-57 win over the Tigers at Gallagher-Iba Arena. After rebounding from a sluggish start, Missouri rallied to take a 32-27 lead at halftime. Kerensa Barr, who scored the Tigers' first six points of the game, had 11 points in the first 20 minutes. But the biggest contributions might have come from the Missouri bench as Amy Loftus scored six points and Lauren Podratz added five in the first half. MU took a 44-32 lead early in the second half only to see Oklahoma State rally due the play of Trisha Skibbe (26 points), Tari Cummings (22 points) and Thia Willis (12 points).

Not Much Pine Time Here: After playing all 40 minutes against UW-Green Bay, Kerensa Barr played 27 minutes against Oklahoma State before getting a break. Barr finished with 38 minutes of playing time. Barr became the first Tiger in the past two seasons to play all 40 minutes in a regulation game. 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.

I'm In: In the past three games, Kerensa Barr has played 38, 40 and 38 minutes. She has played 30 or more minutes in nine of the Tigers' 12 games and has played a team-high total of 400 of a possible 480 minutes this season.

Offensive Rebounds: Evan Unrau has made the most of second opportunities this season. Of her team-high 87 rebounds, Unrau has snared 43 offensive caroms this season.

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.

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. However, Notre Dame won its 494th game to surpass the Tigers' total. MU is tied with Maine as each program has 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 games of Dec. 17. 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 list 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 191-of-251 foul shots for a league-best 76.1 percentage mark. MU also leads in defensive 3-point field goal percentage, allowing teams to shoot a league-low 26.8 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. In the last report, MU ranks second in scoring defense, allowing opponents 60.7 points per game. Kerensa Barr leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage (92.3 percent). Evan Unrau leads the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage (51.7 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: MU looks to take its 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.

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 10 times in its 12 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 75.9 percent of the team's scoring per game (667 of 879 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 127-65 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 74 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 215 3-point field goal attempt. Barr ranks seventh with 131 attempts. Bright ranks eighth in 3-point field goal percentage at 34.4 percent while Barr is ninth at 33.6 percent. Barr and Bright both rank in the Tigers' all-time career lists for assists. Barr's 261 rank seventh while Bright's 259 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 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 marks the first time Missouri will have 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). The Tigers are currently 1-0 against schools (MU 61, SMS 57) which are receiving votes at the time of the game. Missouri's last win over a ranked team was a 78-65 victory over fourth-ranked Georgia in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.

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 Texas Tech, it would ...
*push head coach Cindy Stein's record at MU to 63-40
*even MU's mark to 1-1 in Big 12 Conference play
*give Missouri 494 all-time victories

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