Nov. 30, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format 
TIP-OFF: 1:06 p.m.
ARENA: Mizzou Arena
TV: None
RADIO: KFRU-AM 1400 (David Lile, play-by-play / Edith Thompson, color)
RANKINGS: Neither team is ranked in the AP or ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
SERIES: First Meeting
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri women's basketball team looks to go over .500 as the squad squares off against the Texas State Bobcats at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Mizzou Arena. In the midst of a six-game homestand, Mizzou looks to bounce back from its 66-53 loss to Arkansas on Nov. 28. The game with the Bobcats marks the first time Missouri (3-3) and Texas State will meet on the basketball court.
Up next
The Tigers host the CenturyTel Tiger Tournament on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7-8 at Mizzou Arena. Alcorn and Stephen F. Austin start things off at 5 p.m. on Friday while Missouri will face Mississippi Valley State after the first contest. Missouri will play in the 6:30 p.m. game on Saturday night no matter if the team is in the championship or consolation contest. Saturday's other game will tip-off at the conclusion of the Missouri's game.
Scouting the Bobcats
The Texas State Bobcats come to Columbia with a 4-2 record this season, including wins over Texas A&M International, Concordia-Austin, SEMO and Texas-Pan American. The Bobcats fell to Louisiana-Monroe and New Mexico State.
Texas State has two players who average double figures in scoring, led by senior Joyce Ekworomadu with 16.0 points per game and is shooting .538 percent (14-26) from behind the 3-point arc. Junior Ashley Cole comes in off the bench to contribute 10.5 points as well.
Cold shooting hampers Tigers
Missouri shot a season-low 26.2 percent (16-61) from the floor in the Tiger's 66-53 loss to Arkansas on Nov. 28, including 21.2 percent (7-33) in the first half. Despite the cold shooting, Mizzou only trailed the Lady Razorbacks 31-25 at the half and cut the deficit to 51-50 with just over six minutes left in the game.
Mizzou's previous season-low in field goal percentage was .400 (20-50) in the loss to Samford.
Three spree
In a game where the Tigers were ice cold from inside the arc, Missouri stayed close with Arkansas on hot shooting from the 3-point line. The Tigers made six threes in the first half on 6-of-13 shooting to keep within striking distance of the Lady Razorbacks.
Mizzou's barrage of threes continued to the second half, where the squad sunk another five 3-pointers for a game total of 11 and shot 42.3 percent from behind the arc.
Trouble from two
Despite Mizzou's success from behind the 3-point line against Arkansas, the team struggled the close it got to the basket. The Tigers were 1-of-20 from inside the arc in the first half and didn't make that one two-point field goal until sophomore Toy Richbow made a driving layup with 5:54 left in the frame.
The Tigers did not fare much better in the second half, shooting 4-of-15 from inside the 3-point line, and didn't hit their second two-point field goal until 11:18 left in the game.
Free throws back on track
After struggling from the free throw line in their first four games with a .467 (21-45) percentage, the Tigers have come out of their funk and shot .783 (18-23) percent in the past two contests.
Leading the charge for the Tigers is sophomore Jessra Johnson. The forward is a combined 16-of-18 (.889) in the past two games and has shot more than half of the teams free throw attempts this year.
Hollins lighting it up
Junior Alyssa Hollins is second on the Tigers and seventh in the Big 12 with a 15.8 ppg. mark this season, a fact more noteworthy because she scored only four points in the season opener against Murray State. Over the last five games, Hollins has posted point totals of 20, 18, 11, 22 and 20 for a 18.2 ppg. average, three points more than teammate Jessra Johnson during the same span.
Scott on rebounding roll
In the first 14 games of her Mizzou career, sophomore Marissa Scott pulled down a total of 13 rebounds. The past two games has been a different story for the forward, who has tallied 20 total rebounds against Robert Morris (11) and Arkansas (nine). Her per game rebounding mark has increased from 3.0 in the first four games of the season to 5.8 thanks to her performances the last two contests.
Hollins secures win over Robert Morris
Junior guard Alyssa Hollins made a 15-foot jumper with two seconds remaining to give the Tigers a 74-73 win over Robert Morris in Mizzou's second game in the FAU Thanksgiving Tournament. After the Tigers committed turnovers on three straight possessions that allowed the Colonials to go ahead 73-72 with seconds left, Hollins received an inbounds pass, dribbled around a defender and nailed the winning shot.
The basket gave Hollins 22 points in the game, one above her previous career high, and shot 10-of-20 from the field to go along with six assists.
New faces in lineup
After having the same starting lineup through the first four games of the year, Head Coach Cindy Stein shuffled things around in the contest against Robert Morris.
Sophomore Amanda Hanneman and freshman RaeShara Brown earned their first career starts, taking the spots held by sophomores Jessra Johnson and Toy Richbow. Both new starters played career highs in minutes during the game, with Brown clocking 27 and Hanneman 22. Brown also dished out six assists in the contest, the most by a Missouri player this season.
Hanneman shines
While many of her teammates struggled in Mizzou's loss to Samford on Nov. 24, sophomore Amanda Hanneman took advantage of her increased playing time and led the Tigers with a career high 16 points on 6-of-11 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the 3-point arc.
Hanneman was rewarded for her efforts with her first career start the following day against Robert Morris and played 22 minutes.
Hollins named to all-tournament team
Junior Alyssa Hollins was named to the FAU Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 16.5 points in Mizzou's two games in Boca Raton, Fla. She scored 11 points against Samford on Nov. 24 but really shined against Robert Morris, as the guard posted 22 points, including the game-winning shot.
Johnson comes off bench to lead team
Despite not starting for the first time all year, sophomore Jessra Johnson made the most of her 19 minutes against Robert Morris to post a career high 24 points on 8-of-13 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
Johnson was limited to only one point in Mizzou's 65-49 loss to Samford the previous day and played only 16 minutes in the contest but her dominant play in the paint against the Colonials the next day helped the Tigers pick up their dramatic win over Robert Morris.
Johnson has career night
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.
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
RaeShara Brown
Earned her first career start against Robert Morris (11/25/07) and responded with a then-team season high six assists ... Pulled down a career high five rebounds against Samford (11/24/07) ... 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).
Amanda Hanneman
Earned the first start of her career against Robert Morris (11/25/07) and played a personal best 22 minutes ... Led the Tigers with a career high 16 points, including four 3-pointers, against Samford (11/24/07) ... Tied her then-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 ... Ranks tied for ninth in 3-point field goals made (1.80) in the Big 12 Conference.
Alyssa Hollins
Tied her career high with six made 3-pointers against Arkansas (11/28/07) ... Scored a personal best 22 points, including the game-winning jumper with two seconds remaining, in Mizzou's victory over Robert Morris (11/25/07) ... Tied her personal mark with six steals against Robert Morris (11/25/07) ... Fell one point shy of her career high with 21 against Eastern Illinois (11/15/07) and tied her then-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 first in minutes played (37.33), third in steals (2.83), 3-point field goals made (2.67) and seventh in scoring (15.8) in the Big 12 Conference.
Jessra Johnson
Scored 24 points to set a new career high against Robert Morris (11/25/07) ... Has shot a combined 16-of-18 (.889) from the free throw line the past two games ... Posted 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 four of five games this season ... Ranks second in defensive rebounds (6.83), third in 3-point field goal percentage (.600), fourth in rebounding (8.7), sixth in scoring (16.2) and tied for 10th in blocks (1.33) in the Big 12 Conference.
Shakara Jones
Set a Mizzou record for points by a freshman in her collegiate debut with 27 points against Murray State (11/9/07) ... Scored in double figures in 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) ... Ranks 10th in minutes played (30.67) in the Big 12 Conference.
Jasmyn Otote
Nailed three 3-pointers in Mizzou's win over Robert Morris (11/25/07) to notch a personal best nine points ... 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 19 minutes against Robert Morris (11/25/07).
K-Kay Pickens
Played a personal best 13 minutes in Mizzou's game against Samford (11/24/07). Also tied her career high with six points and set a new mark with four rebounds in the contest ... Pulled down three rebounds against both Murray State (11/9/07) and Eastern Illinois (11/15/07) to tie her personal best.
Toy Richbow
Dished out a career and Mizzou season high seven assists against Arkansas (11/28/07) ... Scored a career high 10 points in the season opener against Murray State (11/9/07) on 4-of-6 from the field ... Posted four steals in Mizzou's loss to Samford (11/24/07) ... 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 10th in assists (3.83) in the Big 12 Conference.
Marissa Scott
Has recorded 20 rebounds in the previous two games, seven more than she had in the previous 14 games of her Mizzou career ... Had a career high three blocks against Arkansas (11/28/07) ... Posted a personal best five points and 11 rebounds against Robert Morris (11/25/07) ... 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) ... Made the first two 3-pointers in her collegiate career in the past two games, Samford (11/24/07) and Robert Morris (11/25/07) ... One of three Tigers to start all six games this season, the first six of her career.
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.