University of Missouri
Texas Tech
Tigers Knock Off 10th-Ranked Texas Tech
1/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2002
Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes
COLUMBIA, Mo. - D?j? vu.
In the Big 12 Conference home opener last season, the University of Missouri women's basketball team faced 12th-ranked Texas. The Tigers stunned Texas that day, coming away with a 68-52 victory.
On Wednesday night, the Tigers faced Texas Tech, which was ranked 10th by the Associated Press and 12th in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches polls, respectively. Due to a strong performance at the free-throw line and in rebounds, Missouri recorded an 82-71 victory over the Lady Raiders in front of 1,372 fans at the Hearnes Center.
Missouri, 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.
The two teams traded baskets early. An inside basket by Melanie Fisher gave the Tigers a four-point lead, 19-15, which was the largest lead in the game's first 10 minutes. Wannette Smith scored to make it 21-15 with 8:51 left in the first half. However, Texas Tech rallied to take a 22-21 lead. After an Evan Unrau basket, the game was tied, 25-25. Unrau's basket was part of a 7-0 MU run as the Tigers jumped out to a 30-25 edge. MU held on and led, 34-32, at halftime.
Unrau had 10 points in the first half to lead the Tigers, who had a 20-13 edge in rebounds. And 11 of MU's 20 rebounds came on the offensive end.
The second half play was similar to the first half as MU broke out to a six-point lead, 46-40, after a basket by Kerensa Barr. Texas Tech would rally and take a 61-60 lead with 6:02 remaining after the second of two made free throws by Amber Tarr.
But Missouri was not to be stopped. Unrau gave MU a 62-61 lead before Angie Carter scored after an offensive rebound to make it 64-61.
Missouri would hold onto the lead by making 12-of-15 free throws in the game's last 3:09. Barr, who entered the game as the nation's second-best free throw shooter at 92.3 percent, sank six of those foul shots. That performance from the line helped power the Tigers to the final margin.
Barr led Missouri with 19 points and a career-best five steals. Unrau had 16 rebounds and tied Fisher for the team lead with eight rebounds. Bright added 16 points and a game-high seven assists while Fisher netted 12 points.
Texas Tech falls to 9-4 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12 while Missouri improves to 10-3 overall and 1-1 in league play. The Tigers travel to Kansas for a 1 p.m. game Saturday. The MU/KU game will be televised on Fox Sports Net.
