Nov. 14, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Tip-off: 6:36 p.m. CST
Arena: Mizzou Arena (15,061)
TV: None
Radio: KFRU-AM 1400 (David Lile, play-by-play / Gary Link, color)
Rankings: Neither team is ranked in the AP or ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
Series: MU leads 5-0 (last meeting: Missouri 106-69, Nov. 17, 2000)
Coaches:
Missouri: Cindy Stein (Illinois, 1984); 151-121 at Mizzou (10th)
Eastern Illinois: Brady Sallee (Thomas Moore Coll., 1993) 30-57 at EIU (fourth)
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Tigers (1-0) seek their second win of the year in as many games as the squad squares off against the Eastern Illinois Panthers (0-2) at Mizzou Arena on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 6:36 p.m. The two teams face off for the first time since Nov. 17, 2000 when Missouri came away with an impressive 106-59 win over the visiting Panthers. Overall, Mizzou holds a 5-0 all-time record over Eastern Illinois in the series.
Up next
Following Thursday's contest, Mizzou hits the road for its first road game of the season on Sunday, Nov. 18 as the squad takes on South Dakota State at 2 p.m. in Brookings, S.D. Last season the Tigers pulled out a 79-62 home win over the Jackrabbits behind then-sophomore Alyssa Hollins' 18 points.
Scouting the Panthers
The Panthers enter Thursday's matchup with Mizzou with a 0-2 record on the year under fourth-year Head Coach Brady Sallee. Eastern Illinois opened the season with a 86-56 loss to Illinois on Nov. 15 and fell to Illinois State 81-68 on Nov. 11.
EIU is led by 2007 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Jessica Huffman, who has scored 18.0 ppg., including a team-high 24 against Illinois. Junior forward Rachel Galligan is also a preseason All-OVC selection and averaged 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in the Panthers' first two games.
Eastern Illinois was chosen fourth in the OVC preseason after finishing ninth last season with a 10-19 overall and 7-13 conference record.
Tigers win opener, 73-64
Freshman forward Shakara Jones and sophomore forward Jessra Johnson combined for 48 points and 22 rebounds to propel the Missouri women's basketball team to a 73-64 season-opening victory over Murray State on Friday night at Mizzou Arena.
Jones posted a double-double to lead Missouri (1-0) with 27 points and 14 rebounds in her collegiate debut while Johnson posted 21 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Toy Richbow added 10 points and five steals for the Tigers.
Shak attack
Freshman Shakara Jones stole the show in her Missouri debut with a game-high 27 points and 14 rebounds in Mizzou's win over Murray State. Jones' point total set a new Tiger mark for freshmen in their Missouri debut and was the highest total in a season opener since Julie Helms poured in 38 in 1999.
In only one game in a Tiger uniform Jones has lived up to her hype as the 2007 Miss Show-Me Basketball recipient and a EA Sports All-America second team honoree.
Tigers Collect 62-50 Exhibition Win
The Tigers overcame a sluggish first half to collect a 62-50 win over Pittsburg State in Mizzou's lone exhibition game on Nov. 5 at Mizzou Arena.
The Tigers trailed 32-21 entering the half but outscored the Gorillas 41-18 in the second frame to post the come-from-behind victory.
Sophomore Jessra Johnson and freshman Shakara Jones each scored 18 points to share game-high honors. Johnson also added 11 rebounds, including five offensive, and three blocks.
Career day for all
Four of Mizzou's five returnees set career highs in a number of statistical categories agianst Murray State on Nov. 9:
Jessra Johnson: points (21), minutes (32)
K-Kay Pickens: rebounds (three), minutes (nine)
Toy Richbow: points (10), steals (five), minutes (31)
Marissa Scott: points (four), assists (two), steals (two), minutes (33)
Second half squad
In Mizzou's lone exhibition game against Pittsburg State and the season opener against Murray State, the Tigers have combined to score 83 points after the break. During the same two games Missouri only posted 52 total points in the first half.
Overall Mizzou has shot 51.6 percent (33-64) from the floor in the second frame, including an impressive 58.1 percent output against Murray State.
To compare, the Tigers have shot a combined 35.5 percent (22-62) from the floor in the first half.
Tigers continue opener dominance
With its 73-64 victory over Murray State on Nov. 9, Missouri improved to 27-7 all time in both season and home openers.
The Tigers own a 12 game winning streak in season openers since a 78-69 loss to Creighton on Nov. 25, 1995 and have claimed eight consecutive home openers since a 83-76 loss to Arkansas on Nov. 22, 1999.
Mizzou wins lone exhibition game
The Tigers overcame a sluggish first half to collect a 62-50 win over Pittsburg State in Mizzou's lone exhibition game on Nov. 5 at Mizzou Arena.
The Tigers trailed 32-21 entering the half but outscored the Gorillas 41-18 in the second frame to post the come-from-behind victory.
Sophomore Jessra Johnson and freshman Shakara Jones each scored 18 points to share game-high honors. Johnson also added 11 rebounds, including five offensive, and three blocks.
Tigers picked 12th in Preseason Big 12 Poll
After a 10th-place finish in the Big 12 Conference a year ago, Mizzou was picked 12th in the Preseason Coaches Poll on Oct. 12. Defending co-champion Texas A&M was selected to win the title, followed closely behind by fellow 2006-07 co-champion Oklahoma.
Youth movement
With only three upperclassmen (and only two of those returnees) on the Tiger roster, it was obvious from the onset that underclassmen would play a major role. Those inexperienced underclassmen made it look easy against Murray State as the sophomore class combined for 35 points and the freshman class contributed 33. Together those classes poured in 68 or Mizzou's 73 points on the evening.
All in the family
Freshman forward Shakara Jones becomes the second member of her family to don the No. 44 jersey on the Tiger hardwood. Her father, Ron Jones, played for Mizzou under Norm Stewart from 1980-84. Known as a defensive specialist, Ron held Michael Jordan to 13 points in Missouri's 64-60 upset of North Carolina in 1982.
Injury bug hits early
Freshman guard Bekah Mills will be forced to sit out her inaugural Tiger campaign after suffering an ACL tear in her right knee at practice on Oct. 27. The freshman had looked strong in preseason practices and would have challenged for the starting point guard position.
From one court to another
Former Mizzou All-America honorable mention volleyball player Nicole Wilson joins the Tiger women's basketball team this season after a successful four-year career on the volleyball court.
Listed as a center on the Missouri roster, Wilson earned four letters in basketball at Lincoln Christian High School (Neb.) and was a three-time all-state and all-conference selection.
Stein enters 10th Season at MU
Missouri Head Coach Cindy Stein enters her 10th season at the helm of the Tigers Friday night. She has accumulated a 150-121 (.554) record at Mizzou in her nine years and recorded her 150th victory with a 69-61 win against Kansas State on Feb. 21, 2006.
In her tenure at Missouri, Stein has led the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament berths, including an appearance in the Sweet 16 in 2001.
Overall, Stein holds a 216-146 (.600) record as a head coach.