Jan. 9, 2004
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| TIPOFF: 7:08 p.m. CST. | ||||
| ARENA: Hearnes Center (13,611). Opened in 1972. MU is 278-96 (.743) here alltime, including including 30-26 (.536) in Big 12 Conference play. | ||||
| 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. Chris Gervino, play-by-play; Gary Link, color; Kevin Schenk, producer. | ||||
| SERIES: Kansas leads, 32-30. Mizzou has won the last seven meetings, including the last four in Columbia. The Tigers are 42-71 in Big 12 Conference play. | ||||
| RANKINGS: Neither team is ranked nor receiving votes in either poll. | ||||
| COACHES: | ||||
| Missouri: Cindy Stein (Illinois '84), 93-69 at MU (sixth season) and 158-94 overall (ninth season).
Kansas: Marian Washington (West Chester '70), 558-352 at KU and overall (31st season). |
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BORDER-WAR RIVALS SEEK FIRST LEAGUE WIN SATURDAY
The Missouri women's basketball team (9-3, 0-1 Big 12) hosts its longtime bitter rival on Saturday, welcoming the Kansas Jayhawks (7-5, 0-1) into the Hearnes Center for a 7 p.m. Mizzou Sports Network telecast.
? ? ? The Tigers are coming off a 95-59 loss at No. 11-ranked Kansas State, and like the Jayhawks will be in search of their first league win of the 2004 season.
? ? ? Kansas lost its league opener to Texas, 73-54, Wednesday night in Lawrence.
? ? ? KU leads the battle between the schools, 32-30, yet the Tigers have swept the season series the last three seasons and have won a school-record-tying seven straight over their archrival, including four in a row against the Jayhawks at the Hearnes Center.
MORE ON KANSAS
The Jayhawks have just one player, sophomore F Crystal Kemp, in double-figure scoring (13.3 ppg), yet KU has four players averaging 8.0 points or better a contest. Freshman F Lauren Ervin leads the team in rebounding (6.4 rpg) for legendary head coach Marian Washington, now in her 31st season as the Kansas mentor.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
OK, so we're borrowing from the movie that was set in ... Kansas, but the phrase still holds true for the Tigers at the Hearnes Center. Mizzou has won nine of its last 10 in the Friendly Confines. But just like those 2 a.m. infomercials, THAT'S NOT ALL!
? ? ? Mizzou has defended its home floor well of late against the teams it should beat: The Tigers have won 13 straight at home against Big 12 opposition that has entered the Hearnes Center unranked. The last unranked league foe to exit Columbia with a win was Nebraska (80-66) on March 2, 2000. Overall, MU is 38-3 dating back to that NU game against all unranked opponents at Hearnes.
Evan Unrau: THE BIG 12'S MOST VERSATILE PLAYER
Senior All-America candidate Evan Unrau (Fort Collins, Colo. / Rocky Mountain HS) is the engine that pulls the Tigers' train, leading the team with her scoring and rebounding averages of 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds a game. Those numbers rank third and second, respectively, in the Big 12 Conference. In addition, the forward is tied for second in the Big 12 with five double-doubles.
? ? ? On top of her scoring and rebounding prowess, Unrau is ranked among the Big 12's top 10 players in five other diverse categories: 3-point FG Percentage (ninth, 42.9 pct.); 3-pointers Made (eighth, 1.75 3FGpg); Assist/Turnover Ratio (eighth, 1.68); Offensive Rebounds (first, 3.8 orpg); and Defensive Rebounds (sixth, 5.3 drpg).
? ? ? Unrau was selected to Street & Smith's preseason women's All-America team, and the four-year starter continues to impress this season. Unrau was one of 50 players listed by Street & Smith's, and one of 30 players given Preseason Honorable Mention All-America status by the magazine. Ten others were each named to the "Terrific 10" and High Honorable Mention lists.
? ? ? Last year, Unrau became Mizzou's second First Team All-Big 12 Conference selection in the seven-year history of the conference. She led the Tigers in both scoring (16.0 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg) in leading Mizzou to postseason play for the fourth straight year.
LAST TIME OUT: #12/11 KANSAS STATE 95, MIZZOU 59
Kansas State leaned on two of its superstars, Nicole Ohlde and Laurie Koehn, in rolling to a 95-59 win over Missouri in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.
? ? ? The duo combined for 56 points, as Ohlde scored 31 points on 14-of-16 shooting - nearly all from inside 5 feet - and Koehn hit 7 3-pointers on her way to 25 points. The Tigers (9-3, 0-1 Big 12) failed to win their Big 12 opener for the eighth straight year, while Kansas State (10-2, 1-0) remained perfect in Manhattan.