Nov. 21, 2005

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Game #4: Mizzou (1-2) vs. Northwestern (1-0)
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005 - Columbia, Mo.

TIPOFF: 7:00 p.m. CST
ARENA: Mizzou Arena (15,061). Opened in 2004. MU is 280-102 (.733) all-time at home.
RADIO: KFRU-AM 1400 (David Lile, play-by-play/Gary Link, color). Also available online at mutigers.com.
TV: None over-the-air; online via Mizzou All-Access subscription at mutigers.com.
SERIES: First meeting between the schools; Mizzou is 15-16 all-time against members of the Big Ten Conference.
RANKINGS: Neither team is ranked.
COACHES:
      Missouri: Cindy Stein (Illinois '84), 113-99 at MU (eighth season) and 178-124 overall (11th season).
      Northwestern: Beth Combs (Illinois '92), 6-25 at NU (second season) and 50-70 overall (fifth season).

WOMEN TAKE ON NORTHWESTERN IN HOME-OPENER TUESDAY NIGHT
     After two weeks on the road, The Mizzou women's basketball team (1-2) plays its home-opener Tuesday night against Northwestern (1-0). Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
     Youth in grades 1-8 are invited to a free basketball clinic prior to the game in the Mizzou Arena practice gym. Registration is required; contact Scott Nielson at 882-0362 or e-mail nielsons@missouri.edu to sign up or for more information. Participants will receive free admission to the game, and their parents and guests can purchase tickets for just $2.
     The Tigers are looking to snap a two-game losing streak, which was extended by a 70-67 loss at Arkansas State. Mizzou fell into an early hole, and despite 61-percent shooting in the second half was unable to pull itself out.
     Northwestern defeated Creighton, 93-77, in both teams' season-opener Saturday in Evanston.

SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
     The Wildcats, under second-year Head Coach Beth Combs, are picked to finish last in both the Big Ten coaches and media polls. NU returns three starters, yet just five letterwinners, from a squad that was 5-25 last season.

LAST TIME OUT: ARKANSAS STATE 70, MIZZOU 67
     Arkansas State put the Missouri women in an early hole, and got key rebounds in the closing moments to stave off a Tiger comeback attempt in posting a 70-67 win Saturday night at the ASU Convocation Center.

NOTES THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE RECAP

Junior forward EeTisha Riddle had a career-high six assists in the loss at Arkansas State. That bettered two previous five assist performances, most recently at Iowa State last year.

Junior guard Blair Hardiek had a career-high four field goals on Saturday. She had twice hit three buckets in a game, most recently vs. Eastern Michigan last year. Hardiek just missed a career high in scoring, posting a nine-point outing vs. ASU. Hardiek had 10 points in her collegiate debut at Bradley two years ago.

MIZZOU STEALS THE SHOW
     With a Big 12-leading 13.3 steals per game (40 steals in three games), the Tigers are at nearly double the pace of their defensive prowess last year, when Mizzou had 224 steals in 29 games (7.7 spg). The Tigers have five different players averaging a steal or more per game, led by LaToya Bond's 11. Five of those came in Saturday's loss at Arkansas State. It's the second straight game a Mizzou player has had five steals; Christelle N'Garsanet did the same at No. 18 Arizona State.