Missouri
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Missouri Storms Past Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 89-60
11/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2006
Behind sophomore Alyssa Hollins' career-high 21 points, the Missouri women's basketball team rolled past Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 89-60, in its home-opener at Mizzou Arena Tuesday night.
For Missouri (2-0), 13 players scored, while 12 recorded at least one rebound and 11 combined to hand out 24 assists (on 35 made baskets).
The win marked the 200th in head coach Cindy Stein's career. She now sits at 200-132 in 11-plus seasons at Emporia State and Missouri.
"I wish all 200 were as easy as that one tonight," Stein said. "There really isn't someone on the squad that I don't think will help us in some situation."
Making her first-ever start, Hollins set career-highs for 3-pointers made, with five, and assists, with three.
Senior Tiffany Brooks finished with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting and added team-highs with seven rebounds and six assists. Senior post EeTisha Riddle scored the first six points of the game for the Tigers and completed her night with 10 points and four rebounds.
Missouri improved to 26-7 all-time in home openers.
TAMU-CC hung tough over the first six minutes before the Tigers pulled away. Following a three-point field goal by Deziree Green that cut the MU lead to 15-13, Brooks converted an old-fashioned three-point play, Tamika Jackson scored on a lay-up and Jessra Johnson added a three-point play of her own to stretch the advantage to 23-13.
MU eventually extended its margin to 19 on two occasions late in the half before taking a 45-27 lead into the locker room.
The Tigers opened the second half on a 10-0 run thanks to a Riddle lay-up, a 3-pointer and two free throws from Hollins and a trio of free throws from Blair Hardiek, who was fouled on a three-point field goal attempt.
Missouri controlled the glass throughout the game as it finished with a 46-32 edge, including a 19-9 outcome on the offensive end. The Tigers got 31 second-chance points compared to just six for the Islanders. Mizzou also turned 23 TAMU-CC miscues into 27 points.
TAMU-CC (0-1) was led by Nicole Duncan who scored 19 points as she tied her career-high with five 3-pointers.
Missouri returns to action on Friday, Nov. 17 when it hosts Arkansas State at Mizzou Arena at 7 p.m. The game is billed as "Paint It Pink" night with a myriad of activities and ticket discounts geared toward the overall theme of breast cancer awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game which will be televised by the Mizzou Sports Network.
