Dec. 31, 2002
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| TIPOFF: 7:00 p.m. CST. | ||||
| ARENA: Hearnes Center (13,611). Opened in 1972. Opened in 1972. MU is 263-89 (.747) here alltime, including 169-37 (.820) vs. non-conference opponents. | ||||
| RADIO: KWWC-AM 90.5 (David Lile, play-by-play/Gary Link, color). Also available on the Internet at www.mutigers.com. | ||||
| TV: None. | ||||
| COACHES: | ||||
| Missouri: Cindy Stein (Illinois '84), 71-57 at MU (5th season), 136-82 overall (8th season).
IUPUI: Kris Simpson (Michigan State '88), 85-114 overall (8th season). |
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TIGERS START 2003 WITH FIRST HOME GAME IN A MONTH
The Missouri women's basketball team opens the New Year with its first home game in nearly a month this Thursday, Jan. 2, when the Tigers host IUPUI. MU's last home games came in the Unilever Tiger Classic on Dec. 6-7.
? ? ? The Tigers are coming off an 87-65 loss at Iowa on Sunday, when Mizzou committed a season-high-tying 22 turnovers. Junior guard MyEsha Perkins led the way with a career-high 16 points.
? ? ? IUPUI has two straight, and four of its last five, after a 69-59 setback at Bowling Green. The Jaguars lost at Kansas, 83-61, last Saturday.
ABOUT IUPUI...
The Jaguars, led by eighth-year mentor Kris Simpson, have struggled through a 3-7 start to the 2002-03 season; all seven losses have come away from the friendly confines of the IUPUI Gymnasium.
? ? ? The Jaguars are led by senior Tiffany Kyser, who is averaging team highs of 17.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game.
? ? ? Freshman Brooke McAfee leads IUPUI with 29 blocks.
? ? ? IUPUI has already played two games against teams on Missouri's schedule. In its season-opener, the Jaguars lost in overtime at Iowa, and as mentioned previously, lost at Kansas last Saturday.
IUPUI SERIES...
Thursday's game will be the first between IUPUI and Missouri. The Tigers are 21-2 all-time against other teams from the Mid-Continent Conference, with their only losses coming to UMKC and Western Illinois.
MIZZOU WELCOMES "J.J. JUMPER" TO HEARNES CENTER
The official mascot of NCAA Basketball, J.J. Jumper, will be in attendance at Thursday's game.
? ? ? J.J. was developed by the NCAA to capture the young audience, engage them in healthy physical, emotional and educational values, and to continue their interest in college basketball.
? ? ? Besides playing basketball, J.J. enjoys a vigorous workout and referees the occasional pick-up game with its friends. J.J. also enjoys cheering for other players when on the sidelines and teaching friends about good sportsmanship. In addition, J.J. studies hard to make the grade at school.
? ? ? Although his age is unknown, J.J. was sinking 3-pointers and fade-away jumpers at the tender age of 6, and at 6-foot-5, now sports a size-26 shoe.
LAST TIME OUT: IOWA 87, MU 65
Kristi Faulkner scored a career-high 25 points, and the Missouri women's basketball team committed a season-high-tying 22 turnovers as Iowa defeated the Tigers by an 87-65 count Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
HOME SWEET HOME
Mizzou holds a 169-37 record against out-of-league foes at the Hearnes Center, an impressive 82.4 percent success rate at home. The Tigers are now 24-3 (.889) at home in the non-conference season in their five years under Cindy Stein.
MIZZOU TAKES EARLY VALLEY LEAD
The Missouri Valley Conference schedule doesn't officially start until Thursday, and the Tigers are still proud members of the Big 12 Conference, yet MU can claim the early lead in "The Valley" with wins to start the season at SMS, vs. Bradley, and at Northern Iowa.
? ? ? With those three wins, Mizzou is now 57-25 (.695) all-time against the Missouri Valley Conference.