Dec. 9, 2003
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| TIPOFF: 7:08 p.m. CST. | ||||
| ARENA: Hearnes Center (13,611). Opened in 1972. MU is 276-91 (.752) here alltime, including 176-37 (.826) vs. non-conference opponents and 31-3 (.912) in those games under Cindy Stein. | ||||
| RADIO: KFRU-AM 1400 (David Lile, play-by-play/Kerensa Barr, color). Also available on the Internet at www.mutigers.com. | ||||
| TV: Mizzou Sports Network [See box below for clearances]. Chris Gervino, play-by-play; Gary Link, color; Curtis Lorenz, producer. Also televised on SMS' third-tier package by KY-3 Springfield. Ned Reynolds, play-by-play; Tom Mast, color; Dave Middleton, producer. | ||||
| SERIES: Mizzou leads, 16-4, including 8-2 in Columbia. MU won last year in Springfield, 68-52. | ||||
| RANKINGS: Neither team is ranked; SMS is receiving votes in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today/WBCA polls. | ||||
| COACHES: | ||||
| Missouri: Cindy Stein (Illinois '84), 89-67 at MU (sixth season) and 154-92 overall (ninth season).
SMS: Katie Abrahamson-Henderson (Iowa '90), 22-14 at SMS and overall (second season). |
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TIGERS SET FOR SHOW-ME SHOWDOWN WITH LADY BEARS
Coming off a pair of dominating performances in winning its home tournament for the 18th time, the Missouri women's basketball team (5-1) is set to host SMS (4-1) in front of the TV lights at the Hearnes Center on Wednesday.
? ? ? The Tigers are going for their third straight win over the Lady Bears since resuming the home-and-home series in 2001. Last season, Mizzou got its first win in Springfield since 1987 against a team adjusting to the system of a new coach; this year, the Lady Bears are receiving votes in both the AP and coaches' polls.
? ? ? The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a complimentary team photo card, and sophomore forward Cherice Mack (St. Charles, Mo. / St. Charles HS), who will be featured on the game program, will be available to sign autographs after the game.
? ? ? For ticket information, call 1-800-CAT-PAWS (573-884-PAWS in Mid-Missouri). As a reminder, holders of the KMIZ-ZOU Spirit Pass, as well as the student All-Sports Pass, get into all women's basketball games free.
MORE ON SMS
The Lady Bears have put on an offensive show in their first five games, especially from beyond the 3-point arc. In an average game, SMS is 10-of-21 from long distance, and is shooting 50.6 percent overall. Sophomore sharp-shooter Kari Koch leads the way with a 22.8 scoring average, and is hitting on 58 percent of her shots (including 53 percent from 3-point land).
? ? ? There are discrepancies between the two teams over the series record, including in MU's own media guide. The opponent information on page 94 incorrectly lists 17-4 as the current series standing in favor of MU, and SMS' media guide lists 16-6. The Lady Bears include two wins over Mizzou in the 1973-74 season, when the Tigers were not yet a varsity program. MU does not count those two losses in its all-time record.
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LAST TIME OUT: MU 88, TULSA 68
Behind 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists from tournament MVP Evan Unrau, the Missouri women's basketball team defeated Tulsa, 88-68, Saturday night in the title game of the Unilever Tiger Tournament. It is the 18th time in the 26-year history of the tournament that the trophy has remained in Columbia.
TIGER DEFENSE KEEPING THE CLAMPS ON
The Tigers have put up impressive defensive numbers in their first six games, including outings yielding just 43, 43, and 41 points. That average of 54.5 points per game is not only fourth in the Big 12 Conference to date, it's also the best mark of a Cindy Stein-coached team at Mizzou. Last year's squad gave up an average of 64.1 points per game, making that team the stingiest Stein group to date.
? ? ? A large part of the defensive success can be attributed to the 7.2 blocks the Tigers are averaging a contest, which not only leads the Big 12 but also puts Mizzou on pace to shatter the current school record of 157 set by the 1999-2000 team.
? ? ? The three games of allowing fewer than 50 points is impressive, but not a school record. A quick glance through the record books show three teams in the past several years of four games or more, including six by the 1992-93 Tigers.