Dec. 11, 2002
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Behind a career-high 19 points from junior guard Tracy Lozier (Leawood, Kan. / Blue Valley North HS), the Missouri women's basketball team registered a solid 89-77 win at Northern Iowa in non-conference action Wednesday night from the West Gym in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Lozier's night included a career-high five 3-pointers - on five attempts - and was 6-of-7 overall for the Tigers (4-3). Senior guard Kerensa Barr (West Plains, Mo. / West Plains HS) had a game-high-tying 22 points and a game-high seven steals, junior forward Evan Unrau (Fort Collins, Colo. / Rocky Mountain HS) added 16 points and 13 rebounds for her second straight double-double, and junior forward Stretch James (Columbus, Ohio / Northland HS / Tyler [Texas] JC) notched 12 points.
For the night, the Tigers shot 54.5 percent (30-of-55) from the field, and made 7-of-10 from 3-point range. In addition, Mizzou made a season-high 22 free throws in 27 tries.
Amy Swisher led Northern Iowa with 22 points, and Katie Miller added 20 for the Panthers (3-3).
"This was a big win for us because we needed a win," said Head Coach Cindy Stein. "We told our kids, whatever it took, that they had to step up and answer. I'm extremely proud of them. I think they were ready to be in this game; last time out, they played not to lose. We just tried to challenge every look they had. "
The Tigers played their best first half of the season, using 55.2 percent shooting and forcing 11 turnovers in forging a 46-40 halftime lead. Although the Tigers were plagued by early turnovers themselves, Lozier set the tone defensively when she drew a charge just 3 minutes, 52 seconds into the game.
Mizzou took its largest lead of the half when Barr hit a 3-pointer, and after UNI was called for a baseline violation inbounding the ensuing possession, Unrau sank a free throw to give MU a 17-9 lead with 12:44 left in the half.
Lozier had a hand in a late first-half surge, scoring seven straight points for Mizzou by hitting a jumper, a pair of free throws, and then a 3-pointer off a Barr fastbreak to give MU a 36-29 lead with 3:51 left. Lozier led the Tigers with 10 first-half points, while the guard tandem of Miller (15) and Swisher (12) led the Panthers.
In the second half, Lozier opened the scoring with her fourth 3-pointer of the night to open the lead back up to nine. The Tigers took an 11-point lead with 11:30 left on a Barr backdoor feed from junior forward Melanie Fisher (St. Louis, Mo. / Principia HS / Southwest Missouri State), who had three assists and six rebounds.
Mizzou didn't score a field goal in the last three minutes, but that was mostly due to the multiple times the Panthers were forced to foul late in the game.
The Tigers are off from competition for the next 10 days as they prepare for fall-semester exams. Mizzou resumes play next Saturday, Dec. 21, with the annual "Braggin' Rights" game against Illinois at Savvis Center in St. Louis.