Feb. 1, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's basketball team continues play in the Big 12 Conference this week against:

*Saturday
*MU (12-7, 3-5 Big 12) at Nebraska (12-9, 2-6 Big 12)
*7:05 p.m., Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, Neb.

Game 200: Missouri head coach Cindy Stein will coach her 200th career game as a head coach Saturday. Stein is 130-69 as a head coach in seven seasons and is 65-44 in her four seasons at MU.

Saturday's Foe: Nebraska dropped a 74-62 decision to No. 10/11 Baylor on Wednesday and has lost four of its last five games. Keasha Cannon leads the team in points (12.4 ppg), rebounds (7.8 rpg), assists (5.0 apg) and steals (2.2 spg). The Cornhuskers have 11 players who have played in at least 17 games this season and have eight players averaging at least 5.7 points per game. Paul Sanderford is in his fifth season at Nebraska and has a mark of 86-62 at NU. Overall, Sanderford is in his 20th season as a head coach with a mark of 451-182.

MU-Nebraska Series: Despite the Tigers winning the past three meetings in the series, Nebraska holds a 31-21 lead. Missouri swept last year's series for the first time since the 1990 meetings. MU has not won four straight games from Nebraska since winning seven straight contests from 1981 to 1984. Missouri's 65-58 win in Lincoln last season snapped a 10-game Nebraska home win streak in the series. Missouri is 5-17 all-time in Lincoln.

Last Meeting - MU vs. Nebraska: After spotting Nebraska one early basket, Missouri got down to business at the Hearnes Center on Jan. 15. With Nebraska up, 2-0, Missouri answered with a 12-0 run that, in effect, put the game away in the 67-41 Big 12 Conference triumph. After the run, Missouri's lead was cut into single digits only twice and was never less than 12 points for the game's final 33 minutes. Natalie Bright scored eight points during MU's 12-0 run. Tracy Lozier added eight first-half points, including a pair of 3-point field goals, as MU rolled to a 41-18 halftime lead. That defensive intensity by the Tigers forced Nebraska into 24 turnovers and 16-of-48 shooting from the field. Nebraska's 41 points tied the mark for fewest points allowed by Missouri during a Big 8/Big 12 Conference game. The 41 points also are the fewest points scored by a Nebraska team since the 1988-89 season.

Since The First MU/NU Game This Year: Missouri has struggled in its last four games, losing all four by at least 21 points. Each one of the losses has been to a team ranked in the nation's top 20. In those four losses, MU averages 56.8 points per game while shooting 35.3 percent from the field. The Tigers have been getting out-rebounded by an average of 9.3 rebounds per contest. The opposition has been averaging 79.5 points per game and shooting 50.6 percent from the field. Prior to the four-game slide, Missouri was the one averaging 70 or more points per game (72.9 to be exact) and shooting 42.5 percent from the field. More importantly, the Tigers were out-rebounding the opposition by an average of 8.1 rebounds per game and forcing 22.6 turnovers per game.

Missouri's Last Time Out: The Tigers suffered an 87-61 loss to No. 16/12 Iowa State in Ames, Iowa, on Wednesday. Missouri opened a 28-20 lead on the play of Natalie Bright, who scored 13 of those points. However, Iowa State rallied behind the play of Lindsey Wilson (12 points) and Angie Welle (11 points) to take a 36-33 halftime lead. The Cyclones opened the second half with a 30-13 run to take control. Bright finished with 15 points while Evan Unrau added 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

In February: Missouri is 130-81 all-time in the month of February and 22-13 all-time on the second of the month, more commonly referred to as "Groundhog Day." In Missouri's last game on Feb. 2 (2000), MU defeated Oklahoma State, 77-73. Coincidentally, that game also was a road contest for the Tigers.

Tough Stretch: Wednesday's game against Iowa State ended Missouri's four-game streak against teams ranked in the nation's top 25. The Tigers' remaining eight regular-season games feature five teams ranked in the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches polls. Dating back to the Baylor game (1/19), Missouri's last 12 games feature nine ranked opponents. In the 1998-99 season, Missouri also played four straight ranked teams (according to the AP Poll). Missouri faced No. 22 Kansas (KU 48, MU 37) on Feb. 7, No. 5 Colorado (CU 74, MU 62) on Feb. 9, No. 7 Texas Tech (TT 74, MU 68) on Feb. 22 and No. 25 Texas (UT 64, MU 59) on Feb. 16 that season.

Single-Season Marks: Natalie Bright and Kerensa Barr continue making an assault on the single-season Missouri records. Bright ranks fifth all-time with her 34 3-point field goals made and her 94 attempts also rank fifth. Bright's next made 3-point field goal will tie her for third place all-time at MU with Julie Helm (1998-99) and Amanda Lassiter (1999-2000). Barr's 77 3-point field goal attempts rank ninth all-time at MU. Barr's free throw percentage mark of 93.2 percent would be the program's all-time best mark if the season would end before the Nebraska contest. In case you were or were not wondering, Barr needs 49 more made foul shots to crack the program's top 10 list for made free throws in a season.

Last Time ...: It has been a while since MU had lost four straight games. The last time MU has lost four consecutive games came in the 1998-99 season when the Tigers fell to Kansas, 48-37, on Feb. 7, to Colorado 74-62 on Feb. 9, to Texas Tech, 74-68 on Feb. 13, and to Texas, 64-59 on Feb. 16.

Now Out: Missouri did not receive a vote the Jan. 28th Associated Press poll. MU had appeared seven times in the last eight editions of the AP 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. 24 poll.

In Wins, In Losses: In Missouri's 12 wins this season, the Tigers average 77.0 points per game and allow opponents only 55.8 points. MU shoots 43.5 percent from the field when it wins and forces opponents into shooting 39.7 percent and committing an average of 23.6 turnovers per game. When the Tigers lose, opponents average 76.7 points and 18.4 turnovers per game and shoot an impressive 50.5 percent from the field. By comparison, MU, when it loses, averages 56.7 points and 21.43 turnovers per game while shooting 36.5 percent from the field.

A Win Would ...: If Missouri defeats Nebraska, it would ...
*give Missouri a sweep over Nebraska this season and four straight wins over the Cornhuskers
*push head coach Cindy Stein's record at MU to 66-44
*give Missouri 497 all-time victories

NCAA Picks: From the 'I guess it's never too early to talk about the NCAA Tournament' department ... CollegeRPI.com predicted that Missouri will make the NCAA's field of 64 and face Iowa in the first round of the East Region. MU is the region's eighth seed. However, that was last week. In this week's edition, Missouri plays Virginia Tech in the Midwest Region. The Tigers are the region's 12 seed.

Offensive Rebounds: Evan Unrau has made the most of second opportunities this season. Of her team-high 145 rebounds, Unrau has snared 67 offensive caroms this season.

Offensive Rebounds II: Missouri grabbed a season-high 23 offensive boards in the win over Texas Tech (1/9). MU's previous high of 18 offensive rebounds came against Southeast Missouri (12/1) and UMKC (11/16). The Tigers recorded 20 offensive rebounds (38 total) against Baylor.

Forcing Turnovers: Missouri has forced opponents to commit 407 turnovers this season (average of 21.42). Opponents have committed 20 or more turnovers in 12 of Missouri's 19 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 178-of-222 foul shots (80.2 percent). Barr's performance this season (if it ended prior to the Nebraska game) would set a school record. Barr's mark of 82-of-88 free throws for 93.2 percent easily surpasses the previous mark of 84.6 percent by Lisa Plummer in the 1980-81 season. Barr saw her streak of 26 consecutive made free throws fall against Colorado (1/26) but enters the Nebraska game with four makes. She also had a streak of 23 consecutive made foul shots earlier this season.

Deja Vu?: Similar to last season, Missouri lost its first Big 12 Conference game of the season before beating a nationally ranked team at home in its second league contest of the year. In the 2000-2001 campaign, Missouri lost its Big 12 season opener 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 (1/9). 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 92 games.

In the starting lineup: Kerensa Barr has started 54 games and has made a team-high 51 consecutive starts in her career. Natalie Bright leads the Tigers with 60 all-time starts and Evan Unrau has made 50 starts.

Television Coverage: MU improved to 4-0 this season on TV with the win over Kansas. MU's next game on TV will be the Feb. 9 Kansas game.

Nearing 500: Missouri has won 496 games in its 28 seasons and could become the 50th NCAA Division I program to surpass the 500 win total. Notre Dame has won 498 games while Maine has won 496 games to also be in the race for 500 wins.

Tough At Home: The Tigers are an impressive 260-83 during their 27 seasons in the Hearnes Center. Missouri has won its last 18 non-conference home games. MU, which suffered its first loss at home this season against Baylor, is 8-2 this season and has won 22 of its last 25 games at the Hearnes Center. Ranked teams have also found the going tough in the Hearnes Center. MU has defeated three of the last five ranked teams in the past two seasons.

NCAA Leader: Kerensa Barr is the nation's leader in free throw percentage, according to the statistical report released by the NCAA through games of Jan 28. Barr's mark of 92.9 percent (79-of-85) leads the nation. Barr technically is tied with Cincinnati's Valerie King on percentage points, but King is 78-of-84 from the foul line. Here's a list of the Tigers' rankings:
*Free throw percentage, 25th, 74.5 percent (245-of-329)

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.

Individuals in the Big 12: Here's a list of the Tigers' rankings in the Big 12 for all games:
Scoring: Kerensa Barr, 11th, 15.6 ppg, Evan Unrau, 19th, 12.6 ppg, Natalie Bright, 24th, 12.1 ppg
Rebounds: Evan Unrau, 7th, 7.6 rpg, Melanie Fisher, 13th, 6.1 rpg, Kerensa Barr, 17th, 5.7 rpg
Assists: Kerensa Barr, 11th, 4.32 apg, Natalie Bright, 12th, 3.84 apg
Steals: Kerensa Barr, 10th, 2.11 spg
Free Throw Percentage: Kerensa Barr, 1st, 93.2 percent (82-of-88)
3-Point FG Made Per Game: Natalie Bright, 11th, 1.79 fgm/g
3-Point FG Percentage: Natalie Bright, 14th, 36.2 percent (34-of-94)
Assist/Turnover Ratio: Natalie Bright, 14th, 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 on 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.

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 in the same season 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 year in their wins. Missouri has made 23 or more free throws six times this season. They are:
*23 - vs. UMKC (W)
*24 - vs. SMS (W)
*32 - vs. Davidson (W)
*27 - vs. Northern Iowa (W)
*23 - vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (W)
*23 - vs. Texas Tech (W)

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

Scoring Power: The Tigers' starting five average 75.3 percent of the team's scoring per game (995 of 1,321 points). MU has used six different starting lineups this season. They are (in alphabetical order):
*Barr, Bright, Carter, Fisher, Unrau
*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 65-44 with Missouri and is 130-69 in seven seasons as a head coach. Stein, who has an all-time mark of 25-31 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 178-of-222 free throws for a mark of 80.2 percent. After making a career-high six 3-point field goals against Kansas (1/12), Bright has now made 90 in her career to rank fourth in that all-time category at Missouri while Barr has made 51 to rank sixth. Bright ranks fourth with 254 3-point field goal attempts. Barr ranks seventh with 158 attempts. Bright ranks fourth in 3-point field goal percentage at 35.4 percent while Barr is ninth at 32.3 percent. Barr and Bright both rank in the Tigers' all-time career lists for assists. Barr's total of 288 assists ranks tied for sixth with Julie Helm (1997-2000) while Bright's 284 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 51st in this week's Sagarin RPI rankings with a mark of 81.50. MU fell nine spots from last week's rating. CollegeRPI.com ranks the Tigers 41st (.5936) while the Collegiate Basketball News has MU 42nd at .5736. In the WBCA/Summerville RPI Rankings, MU is 40th (.58549).

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: Nine opponents - #4 Oklahoma, #9 Kansas State, #10 Baylor, #11 South Carolina, #13 Texas Tech, #14 Texas, #16 Iowa State, #17 Colorado and RV Illinois - are in the Associated Press poll and 10 (although in a different order) - #4 Oklahoma, #9 South Carolina, #10 Kansas State, #11 Baylor, #12 Iowa State, #14 Texas, #16 Texas Tech, #17 Colorado and RV Illinois and UW-Green Bay - are in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches poll. The win over 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). Missouri is 1-4 this season against ranked teams. The Tigers are 1-0 against schools (MU 61, SMS 57) which are only 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 Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m. The show originates from Harpo's in Columbia and is 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 44th in the 2001-02 National Women's Basketball Home Attendance 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 average 1,987 fans per game this season, well above last season's average of 1,566 during the same number of home games.

Who's Next? MU will face No. 9/10 Kansas State at 7 p.m. on Feb. 5 before taking on Kansas at 3 p.m. on Feb. 9. Both games will be played at the Hearnes Center.