April 24, 2004

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Evan Unrau was named the Most Valuable Tiger at the team's end-of-season banquet, held Saturday afternoon at the Peachtree Catering Center.

Unrau, who was selected in the third round of the WNBA Draft last week, accepted the award via videotaped message. She is in Chicago attending the WNBA Rookie Orientation meetings. She won two other awards on Saturday to tie for the most on the team with Tracy Lozier.

Tiger play-by-play announcer David Lile served as master of ceremonies, and at the beginning of the banquet rattled off some of the numerous accomplishments this season. The Tigers advanced to their eighth NCAA National Championship Tournament, and first since 2001. With that berth, Missouri reached the postseason for the fifth consecutive year, which ties the longest stretch in school history.

Head Coach Cindy Stein won her 100th game as Missouri's coach on March 3 at Texas A&M, and is now 101-78 in six seasons at MU. She earned her 150th career win in the season opener at Bradley, and is 166-103 in eight seasons overall.

This season marked the 32nd and final season of basketball competition in the Hearnes Center (30th for women's hoops), and the Tigers closed out the home schedule with a 63-58 win over Iowa State on Feb. 28.

Three Tigers - Unrau, Lozier and Megan Roney - were named to the Academic All-Big 12 Conference Team, bringing to 25 the number of basketball student-athletes recognized by the league in Cindy Stein's six-year tenure at MU.

2003-04 Women's Basketball Season Awards
Total Efficiency Rating Award Stretch James
Daily Point Leader Award (Preseason) MyEsha Perkins
Daily Point Leader Award (Guards) Evan Unrau
Daily Point Leader Award (Posts) Stretch James
String Music Free-Throw Award Tracy Lozier
Glass Attacker Rebound Award Evan Unrau
Special Delivery Assist Award Tracy Lozier
Intimidator Defense Award Stretch James
Heart & Soul Leadership Award Melanie Fisher
Fighting Tiger Hustle Award Tracy Lozier
Most Valuable Tiger Award Evan Unrau