University of Missouri
Southern Illinois
Tiger Women Get Seventh Straight, 96-69
12/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2005
COLUMBIA, Mo. - For the sixth time in the last seven games, five Missouri women's basketball players scored in double figures, and for the seventh straight game, Mizzou went out a winner in a 96-69 win over Southern Illinois Sunday evening at Mizzou Arena. The seven-game streak is the longest since Mizzou (8-2) won nine in a row at the start of the 1999-2000 season.
Four of the Tigers' five starters scored more than 16 points, led by a game-high 21 from senior guard LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS). Bond hit all six of her free throws, was 7-of-11 from the field, and added seven assists and five rebounds. Junior forward Carlynn Savant (Euless, Texas / Trinity HS) added 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting; senior center Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College) picked up her third double-double of the season with 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds; and junior forward Tiffany Brooks (Leavenworth, Kan. / Leavenworth HS) added 16 points, four rebounds and three assists for the victors.
Carlai Moore led four Salukis in double figures with 18 points for Southern Illinois (4-4).
"Our kids did a great job of coming out full-force, with a lot of energy and focus, from the get-go," Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "We haven't been starting well, we've been kind of sluggish at times, but these last couple of games they've been focused on working together as a team. The win streak is not something I think about; what I'm focused on is the team getting better and improving each game, and getting us ready for the Big 12."
Savant had two 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the game to help the Tigers open a 12-4 lead. Brooks then hit back-to-back buckets less than two minutes later to give the Tigers a double-digit lead. Hot shooting propelled Mizzou to its early start, as the Tigers made eight of their first 12 shots - including Savant's pair from long distance.
Mizzou cooled off considerably midway through the first half - while holding the Salukis to just two field goals in a seven-minute span - before revving back up. A 10-0 run, with most of the baskets coming inside either in transition or on the fastbreak, pushed the Tiger lead to 37-17 with 5:14 to go in the half.
The Tigers entered the locker room with a comfortable 49-25 lead, and Savant, Brooks and N'Garsanet all had 10 points or more at the half.
With the exception of four separate possessions midway through the second half, when Southern Illinois got within 19, Mizzou maintained its 20-point advantage in the second 20 minutes before boosting the lead to 30 on a jumper from junior center Tamika Jackson (Galveston, Texas / Ball HS / Chipola JC), who finished with 10 points and a pair of rebounds in just eight minutes on the floor.
Mizzou has little time to rest up, as the Tigers are back in action this Tuesday, Dec. 20, when they play their final game before a week off for Christmas with a 7 p.m. tip against Alabama State. Tickets are available by visiting the Mizzou Arena Box Office, calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in mid-Missouri) or going online to www.mutigers.com.
NOTES: Over their last two games, the Tigers have 47 assists to just 18 turnovers (2.6-to-1) ... Bond has 15 assists against just two turnovers in that span.
