2001-02:
Will be counted on to lead young squad this season... Steady performer who can run the team as well as shoot from 3-point range... Extremely competitive... Notorious for hitting key baskets... Improved ballhandling and defensively every year... Runs the show very well... Solid spot-up shooter.
2000-2001
Served as one of the Tigers' key contributors off the bench, averaging 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game... Shot 42 percent from the field, 39 percent from the 3-point arc and 71 percent from the free-throw line... Recorded 70 assists, five blocks and 12 steals on the year... Named to the academic All-Big 12 first team and was a Big 12/Bank of America Community Champion... Scored 12 points against No. 2-ranked Georgia (3/18) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament... Was 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from the foul line against the Lady 'Dogs... Scored nine points while shooting 50 percent from the floor and dishing out five assists against No. 25 Wisconsin (3/16) in the first round... Scored 13 points against Colorado (3/7) in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament while shooting 4-for-9 from the field and 2-for-4 from 3-point range... Also pulled down three rebounds and had one steal vs. CU... Against then-No. 7 Iowa State (1/17), hit two key 3-pointers to spark a comeback attempt... Scored eight points and had two steals against the Cyclones... Had five points and three rebounds in 14 minutes of play against then-No. 12 Texas (1/6)... Tallied season-high 13 points against Wisconsin-Milwaukee (12/30) to record her first double-figure game of the year... Scored 13 points against No. 13 Texas Tech (1/3) by hitting 3-for-4 from the field and 5-for-5 from the foul line... Started twice — against Nebraska (1/27) and Iowa State (1/31)... Scored four points and had six rebounds, three assists and three steals against the Huskers before scoring nine points and pulling down four boards against the Cyclones.
1999-2000
Played in all 30 games, starting 28... Ranked second on the team with 86 assists... Averaged just 2.3 turnovers per game... Scored career-high 24 points against Kansas State (1/23) by shooting 7-for-8 from the floor... Had career-high 10 rebounds to lead MU when the Tigers set the Big 12 single-game record with 68 vs. Baylor (1/8)... Had 12 points, five rebounds and two assists against Arkansas (11/22)... Named to the Unilever Missouri Lady Tiger Classic All-Tournament Team after recording 18 points, six rebounds and three assists in the title game against Western Kentucky (12/4)... Dished out career-best seven assists to go with 14 points and five rebounds against Oklahoma State (2/2)... Hit a baseline jumper, her only basket, with 30 seconds remaining to pick up win over then-No. 14 Texas Tech (2/8).
1998-99
Played in 28 games, starting 11... Posted a season-high 18 points off the bench vs. Southeast Missouri State... Made her first career start in her home state of Iowa against the Hawkeyes... Averaged eight points off the bench in a three-game stint... Hit four crucial free throws with under two minutes in MU's 68-63 victory over Texas A&M... Had five assists and no turnovers in 15 minutes at Kansas State... Scored ...eight points off the bench and committed just one turnover in a win over Nebraska... Tied a season-high with five assists and turned the ball over just once at Texas Tech... Named First-Team All-Academic Big 12.
HIGH SCHOOL
Set Dowling High's career scoring record and was named first-team all-state as a senior... An all-state tournament pick as a sophomore, junior and senior... Chosen all-USA Today honorable mention as a senior... Earned first-team all-conference honors three times... A second-team all-state pick as a junior after being a third-team all-state selection as a sophomore... Team won state titles in 1996 and 1998 and was runner-up in 1997... Also a two-time letterwinner in softball... Four-year honor roll student... National Honor Society member.
PERSONAL
Psychology major... Born Dec. 26, 1979... Daughter of Ken and Gail Bright.
2000-01:
1999-2000
Played in all 30 games, starting 28... averaged just 2.3 turnovers per game in 26.1 minutes per game... ranked second on the team with 86 assists... scored career-high 24 points against Kansas State (1/23) shooting 7-of-8 from the floor... had career-high 10 rebounds to lead MU in a game where the Tigers broke the Big 12 single-game record with 68 vs. Baylor (1/8)... had 12 points, five rebounds and two assists vs. Arkansas (11/22)... named to the Unilever Missouri Lady Tiger Classic all-tournament team... had 18 points, six rebounds and three assists in the title game against Western Kentucky (12/4)... had 14 points, five rebounds and a career-high seven assists against Oklahoma State (2/2)... tallied 116 season rebounds... hit a baseline jumper with 30 seconds to go for her only bucket of the game to propel Missouri to an upset over Texas Tech (2/8).
1998-99
Played in 28 games and started 11... posted a career-high 18 points off the bench vs. Southeast Missouri State... made her first career start in her home state of Iowa against the Hawkeyes... averaged eight points off the bench in a three-game stint... hit four crucial free throws with under two minutes in MU's 68-63 victory over Texas A&M... had five assists and no turnovers in 15 minutes at Kansas State... scored eight points off the bench and committed just one turnover in a win over Nebraska... tied a career-high with five assists and turned the ball over just once at Texas Tech... named to the first-team academic All-Big 12 team.
HIGH SCHOOL
Lettered for four years at Dowling High School... named first-team all-state her senior year... named to the Iowa State all-tournament team her sophomore, junior and senior seasons... named All-USA honorable mention by USA Today as a senior... earned first-team all-conference honors her sophomore, junior and senior years... named second-team all-state her junior year and third-team all-state her sophomore year... helped lead her team to state titles from 1996-1998... team finished as state runner-up in 1997... broke Dowling's career scoring record... was also a two-time letterwinner in softball... honor roll student all four years... member of the National Honor Society... coached by Bob and Sharon Hansen.
PERSONAL
Psychology major ... born Dec. 26, 1979 ... parents are Ken and Gail Bright.
1999-00:
FRESHMAN (1998-99)
Started 11 games and played in all 28 games... posted a career-high 18 points off the bench vs. Southeast Missouri State (11/24)... made her first career start in her home state of Iowa vs. the Hawkeyes... averaged 8 points off the bench in a three-game stint... hit four crucial free throws with under two minutes in the game against Texas A&M (1/9)... had five assists and no turnovers in 15 minutes at Kansas State... scored 8 points off the bench and committed just one turnover in a win over Nebraska (2/2)... tied a career-high with five assists and turned the ball over just once at Texas Tech (2/13). OFF THE COURT: Tabbed first-team Academic All-Big 12.
HIGH SCHOOL
Lettered for four years at Dowling High School... named first-team All-State her senior year... named to the Iowa State All-Tournament Team her sophomore, junior and senior campaigns... named All-USA honorable mention by USA Today her senior year... earned first-team All-Conference honors her sophomore, junior and senior seasons... named second-team All-State her junior year and third-team All-State her sophomore year... helped lead her team to state titles in 1996 and 1998... team finished as state runner-up in 1997... broke Dowling's career scoring record... also lettered in softball for two years... honor roll student all four years... member of the National Honor Society.
PERSONAL
Majoring in business... born on December 26, 1979... parents are Ken and Gail Bright.
HONORS & AWARDS
- 1998-99 All-Big 12 Academic First Team
- 1999-00 All-Big 12 Academic First Team
- 2000-01 All-Big 12 Academic First Team
- 2001-02 All-Big 12 Academic First Team
1998-99:
Started 11 games and played in all 28 games. Posted a career-high 18 points off the bench vs. Southeast Missouri State (11/24). Made her first career start in her home state of Iowa vs. the Hawkeyes. Averaged 8 points off the bench in a three-game stint. Hit four crucial free throws with under two minutes in the game against Texas (1/9). Had five assists and no turnovers in 15 minutes at Kansas State. Scored 8 points off the bench and committed just one turnover in a win over Nebraska (2/2). Tied a career-high with five assists and turned the ball over just once at Texas Tech (2/13).
Off the Court: Tabbed first-team Academic All-Big 12.
High School: Lettered for four years at Dowling High School. Named first-team all-state her senior year. Named to the Iowa State All-Tournament Team her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. Named All-USA honorable mention by USA Today her senior year. Earned first-team all-conference honors her sophomore, junior, and senior years. Named second-team all-state her junior year and third-team all-state her sophomore year. Helped lead her team to state titles in 1996 and 1998. Team finished as state runner-up in 1997. Broke Dowling’s career scoring record. Also lettered in softball for two years. Honor roll student all four years. Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Majoring in business. Born on December 26, 1979. Parents are Ken and Gail Bright.
Full Name: Natalie Eileen Bright
Favorite Athlete: Keith Van Horn
Hobbies: Bike riding, music, tennis, reading
Favorite Food: Lasagna
Favorite Movie: Rocky and The Burbs
Favorite Women’s Professional Team: The New York Liberty
Favorite Women’s Basketball Player: Bridgett Pettis
Favorite Quote: “History, despite its pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”
Craziest Ambition: Skydive
If I Weren’t Playing College Basketball, I Would Be: Going to school and playing a different sport
Greatest Moment in Sports: Winning the state in 1996 and 1998
Before a Basketball Game: Listen to music and meditate
The One Thing I Like Most About Basketball: The competition and the intensity
When I Want to Get Away From Basketball: Play different a sport
The Best Athlete I Ever Played Against: Jackie Stiles
My Primary Inspiration in Sports: My mother
My Goal in Life: To play basketball as long as I can and then coach
My Advice to Youngsters: “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” — Jordan
The Best Thing About Being an Athlete: Being in the game you love
The Worst Thing About Being an Athlete: Nothing — I love it