Nov. 23, 2007

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BOCA RATON, Fla. - Mizzou travels to Boca Raton, Fla., this weekend for the FAU Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday, Nov. 24 and Sunday, Nov. 25 at FAU Arena. Pairings have all ready been announced for the tournament, with Missouri (2-1) set to face Samford (3-1) at 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. CT) on Saturday and Robert Morris (1-2) at 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. CT) on Sunday. The Tigers will not play host Florida Atlantic. This weekend marks the first time Missouri will play bot Samford and Robert Morris.

Up next
After Mizzou takes on Robert Morris on Sunday, the Tigers head back to the Mizzou Arena as team hosts Arkansas on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 6:30 p.m. Missouri then returns to the court on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. for a contest against Texas State.

Scouting the Bulldogs
Samford, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Mike Morris, has a 3-1 record on the season despite averaging less points and rebounds per game than its opponents.

In the Bulldogs' four games, they have averaged 63.5 points and 29.3 rebounds per contest, compared to 68.0 points and 38.2 rebounds for their opponents. Although these averages include an 86-38 loss to then-No. 5LSU.

Sophomore guard Monica Maxwell leads a very balanced offense that has six players averaging at least 7.0 ppg. Maxwell is tops on the team with an 11.5 ppg., just ahead of senior forward Alex Munday.

Hollins back on track
As Missouri's lone returning starter, junior Alyssa Hollins, she is expected to help carry the offensive load for the Tigers this season. struggled with her shot in Mizzou's exhibition game versus Pittsburg State and season opener against Murray State. She shot 3-of-11 against the Gorillas and 2-13 in the game with the Racers. Hollins responded against Eastern Illinois with 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the floor.

Hollins again helped lead the Tiger offense in Mizzou's 78-63 loss to South Dakota State. The junior tied teammate Shakara Jones with a game high 18 points and played all but one minute in the contest.

Last time out
The Missouri women's basketball team fell to South Dakota State, 78-63, Sunday afternoon in Brookings, S.D. Junior guard Alyssa Hollins and freshman forward Shakara Jones each posted 18 points to lead all scorers.

Missouri, which was outrebounded 42-33 by the Jackrabbits, also received 13 points from sophomore forward Jessra Johnson.

Dynamic Duo
Mizzou's tandem of talented young forwards, Jessra Johnson and Shakara Jones, are emerging as the offensive leaders for the Tigers this season. Together, the pair combines for 38.7 points and 19.3 rebounds per game. Their total point and rebounding contributions make up more than half of Mizzou's team per game averages:

Johnson/Jones PPG: 38.7
Johnson/Jones RPG: 19.3
Team PPG: 68.3
Team RPG: 37.3
Percentage of PPG: .567
Percentage of RPG: .517

Johnson on a roll
Sophomore Jessra Johnson filled up the stat sheet in Mizzou's contest with Eastern Illinois on Nov. 15. Over the course of the game, Johnson posted 22 points and pulled down 19 rebounds both of which were career highs. Her 19 rebounds were the most by a Tiger since Evan Unrau recorded 20 against Texas on Jan. 10, 2001.

Johnson bested her previous score total of 21 set in the season opener and rebound mark of 10, which she recorded against at Stanford last season.

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.

Jones responded in Mizzou's second game against Eastern Illinois with 15 points.

Hanneman sees first action
Sophomore forward Amanda Hanneman saw her first action of the year against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 15 after missing the season opener. Still recovering from a stress fractice in her foot suffered during the preseason, Hanneman is getting healthier and is working her way back into the rotation.

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 123 points after the break. During the same two games Missouri only posted 81 total points in the first half. Overall Mizzou has shot 52.6 percent (50-95) 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 34.8 percent (32-92) from the floor in the first half.

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.

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.

Tiger Tidbits

Amanda Hanneman
Tied her career high with six points (on 2-of-2 from behind arc) against South Dakota State (11/18/07) ... Saw her first action of the season against Eastern Illinois (11/15/07) ... Did not play in Mizzou's season opener as she has recovering from a stress fracture in her foot.

Jessra Johnson
Set career highs with 22 points and 19 rebounds against Eastern Illinois (11/15/07) ... Scored a then-career high 21 points against Murray State (11/9/07) in the season opener ... Her 19 rebounds against Eastern Illinois (11/15/07) were the most recorded by a Tiger since Evan Unrau pulled down 20 against Texas A&M on Jan. 10, 2001 ... Has scored in double figures in all three of Missouri's games this season ... Ranks first in defensive rebounds (8.67), second in rebounding (11.3), third in scoring (18.7), and three-point percentage (.571), tied for sixth in blocks (1.67) and eighth in field goal percentage (.629) in the Big 12 Conference.

Jasmyn Otote
Scored five points in her collegiate debut, including 2-of-3 from the floor and 1-of-1 from behind the arc ... Played a season and career high 14 minutes against South Dakota State (11/18/07).

Toy Richbow
Scored a career high 10 points in the season opener against Murray State (11/9/07) on 4-of-6 from the field ... Recorded a personal best five steals and five rebounds against Murray State (11/9/07) ... Despite standing only 5'6", picked up blocks in Mizzou's first two games of the season ... Ranks eighth in the Big 12 Conference in minutes played (31.7)

Alyssa Hollins
Fell one point shy of her career high with 21 against Eastern Illinois (11/15/07) and tied her career mark with eight field goals made in the contest .. Tied her personal best with six rebounds against South Dakota State (11/18/07) and five assists versus Eastern Illinois (11/15/07) .. Ranks second in minutes played (37.0) and third in three-pointers made (2.33) among all Big 12 Conference players.

K-Kay Pickens
Pulled down three rebounds against both Murray State (11/9/07) and Eastern Illinois (11/15/07) to tie her personal best .. Has twice played nine minutes this season, against Murray State (11/9/07) and South Dakota State (11/18/07) to tie her career high.

RaeShara Brown
Scored her first collegiate points with a basket against Murray State (11/9/07) in the season opener .. Recorded three steals and two asissts against Eastern Illinois (11/15/07) ... Is a perfect 2-for-2 from the free throw line on the year, after making both her attempts against South Dakota State (11/18/07).

Nicole Wilson
Scored her first four collegiate points against South Dakota State (11/18/07) .. Recorded three steals and two asissts against Eastern Illinois (11/15/07) ... Played in her first organized basketball game in over four years after logging two minutes against Murray State in the season opener ... A former four-year volleyball player for Mizzou, last played basketball while a senior in high school.

Marissa Scott
Played a career high 33 minutes in Mizzou's season opener against Murray State (11/9/07) .. Pulled down a personal best four rebounds against Eastern Illinois (11/15/07) ... Has started all three games this season, the first three of her career.

Shakara Jones
Set a Mizzou record for points by a freshman in her collegiate debut with 27 points against Murray State (11/9/07) ... Has scored in double figures in all three of Missouri's games this season ... Recorded a double-double in her first collegiate game, with 27 points and 14 rebounds against Murray State (11/9/07) ... Leads all Big 12 Conference players in scoring average (20.0), ranks fifth in minutes per game (33.3) and is tied for 10th in rebounding (8.0).