Nov. 29, 2004

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri freshman guard Kassie Drew (Anna, Ill. / Anna-Jonesboro HS) has been named Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Week for games played from Nov. 22-28, officials from the league announced this afternoon.

Players are nominated by each school's sports information office and voted on by a panel of media who cover Big 12 women's basketball.

Drew, a 5-foot-11 shooting guard, scored a game-high 20 points in Saturday's win vs. Providence, knocking down an MU season-high four 3-pointers. She hit her first four shots, scoring 10 points in the first 6:14 of the game. She finished 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-9 from 3-point range to lead all scorers. Drew added seven points in Friday's loss at New Mexico and finished the weekend averaging a team high-tying 13.5 points per game. For the season, Drew is third on the squad, averaging 9.8 ppg, and is among the Big 12 leaders in 3-pointers per game (2.25).

Drew is the first Tiger to earn weekly recognition from the Big 12 since Tracy Franklin, now MU's coordinator of basketball operations, earned Player of the Week honors in February of 2001. She is the first Rookie of the Week since Evan Unrau was tabbed in January of 2001.

Kansas State senior forward Kendra Wecker earned Player of the Week honors. This is the second week of the 2004-05 Big 12 awards season.

The Tigers play their 2004-05 home opener Tuesday night against Evansville. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Mizzou Arena. Tickets remain available and can be purchased at the Mizzou Arena Box Office, by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in Mid-Missouri) or online at www.mutigers.com.