Nov. 11, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. -
Mizzou had three players post double-doubles, and the Tigers had a huge rebounding advantage, as Mizzou defeated Clemson by a 78-54 count in the first round of the WBCA/BTI Classic, played Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Tigers will play Saturday night at approximately 6:30 p.m. MST/7:30 p.m. CST in the tournament's championship game against the winner of this evening's nightcap between preseason No. 16 Vanderbilt and No. 18 and host Arizona State.
In the first neutral-site game of the 2005-06 women's college basketball season, Mizzou had four players score in double figure, including a game-high 17 from senior center Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College). N'Garsanet added 10 rebounds, and was joined in the double-double club by junior forwards EeTisha Riddle (O'Fallon, Ill. / O'Fallon HS) and Carlynn Savant (Euless, Texas / Trinity HS). Riddle had 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Savant added 10 points and 12 boards.
"Those three did a great job defensively. They always made sure they were in there for the boards," Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "I really thought our depth is what kept us in the game in the first half. Blair Hardiek, Cherice Mack, Kassie Drew and Alyssa Hollins in particular did a great job for us. I think you saw us a bit tougher tonight - when we were back on our heels, we responded."
Carrie Frist, Clemson's 6-foot-4 center, played prominently in the first three minutes of the game. She hit three of her first four field-goal attempts in helping build an 8-2 lead for Clemson, yet also picked up three fouls - including one when a substitute was waiting to come in for her - just 2:49 into the game.
Mizzou continued to crash the boards in the first half, getting 14 second-chance points. The Tigers took their first lead of the game, at 18-17, on a jumper from junior forward Tiffany Brooks (Leavenworth, Kan. / Leavenworth HS / Kansas State) with 8:41 left in the half. Clemson was plagued with foul trouble, yet Mizzou couldn't take advantage with an unfathomable 6-for-22 shooting performance from the free-throw line in the half.
MU began to pull away late in the first half. On the final possession before the final media timeout, Mizzou used good ball movement to find sophomore guard Kassie Drew (Anna, Ill. / Anna-Jonesboro HS) in the corner for a 3-pointer to put the Tigers up 31-21. Drew hit another trey from around 25 feet on the left wing a couple of minutes later to cap a 16-0 run, and Mizzou took a 41-29 halftime lead. N'Garsanet led all scorers with 11 points at the break, and alo had a game-high eight rebounds. Mizzou shot 46 percent from the field, and held Clemson to 40 percent shooting.
After Clemson got two quick baskets to start the second half, Frist was sent to the bench again after picking up her fourth foul just 1:12 into play. MU once again went to work inside, getting its next 10 points on post moves, fastbreaks or putbacks.
Clemson had its own 9-0 run to move within 51-44 with 10:57 to play. Adrianne Bradshaw had five of those points, yet Mizzou broke that run with a layup from N'Garsanet. Senior guard LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS) drove the right baseline on a backdoor screen for a layup, and the next time down the floor, N'Garsanet pulled down her 10th rebound for her double-double. Mizzou went on an 18-5 run over the next 6:29, though, to push the lead to 20 points.
NOTES: Mizzou finished a dismal 16-of-34 from the free-throw line, and missed their first 10 shots from the stripe. N'Garsanet, a career 47-percent free-throw shooter, made her first two tosses of the game to break the streak ... records are unavailable for the last - if any - time that Mizzou had three players with double-doubles ... Mizzou is now 25-7 in season openers all-time (.781), and has won its last 10 games to start a season ... Stein won in her 300th game as a head coach; she now holds a 178-122 record (.593) in 11 seasons overall.