March 10, 2009

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COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri women's basketball team (13-16, 4-12 Big 12) enters the 2009 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship as the 11-seed and will face six-seed Texas (20-10, 8-8 Big 12) in the first round of the tournament on Thursday, March 12 at 5 p.m. The winner of the contest will advance to the quarterfinals to face three-seed Iowa State (23-7, 11-5 Big 12) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13.

Tigers in the Big 12
Missouri holds a 6-12 all-time mark in the Big 12 Championship but is 5-6 in first round games and 5-7 against South Division teams. Last season the Tigers were seeded 12th and became the first 12-seed to win a first round game in a 70-64 overtime victory over No. 11 Oklahoma. Mizzou fell to four-seed and No. 11 Texas A&M 65-39 in the quarterfinals the next day.

Mizzou-Texas series history
The Longhorns own a 16-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 66-56 victory in Columbia on Feb. 24. The Tigers' lone win came on Jan. 6, 2001, when Mizzou posted a 68-52 victory in Columbia.

The two teams have met just once before in the Big 12 Championship, with Texas claiming a 70-57 win in the first round on March 6, 2007. The Tigers were the 10-seed while Texas was the seven-seed in that game.

Last time against Texas
Junior Jessra Johnson recordeda double-double but Missouri could not get past No. 16 Texas as the Longhorns recorded a 66-56 win on Feb. 24.

Johnson scored 16 points to go along with a game high 10 rebounds and senior Alyssa Hollins poured in a team high 18 points. The Tigers recorded 11 steals in the game and forced the Longhorns to commit 23 turnovers.

Mizzou ran off the first seven points of the contest, capped by a three from Hollins, just two minutes and 30 seconds into the game. The Tigers' offense stayed hot as the team eventually built a 10-point advantage, 19-9, with 9:41 remaining in the first half.

The Longhorns stormed back with a 13-2 run over the next five and a half minutes and took their first lead of the game, 22-21, when Brittainey Raven made a layup at the 4:13 mark. Texas continued to put on the pressure and entered the break with a 30-24 advantage.

The Tigers closed within three, 32-29, after Johnson hit a layup and sophomore Shakara Jones nailed her first three-pointer of the season with 18:16 left in the contest. Texas earned its biggest lead of the game, 51-38, when Ashleigh Fontenette converted a layup with just over 10 minutes on the clock but five consecutive points from Johnson brought Mizzou back within seven, 51-44.

Texas' lead by at least seven points the rest of the way and held on for the 66-56 victory.

Last year in the Big 12 Championship
In 2008 Missouri became the first Big 12 12-seed to win a first round contest when the Tigers upset five-seed and No. 11 Oklahoma 70-64 in overtime at Municiple Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

The score remained tight throughout the first half, with the Sooners holding a slim 24-21 lead at the break. Mizzou stayed tough and built a 40-34 advantage with 12:24 left but Oklahoma stormed back to take a three-point lead, 53-50, in the final minute. After an Oklahoma miss, Shakara Jones grabbed the offensive rebound and Alyssa Hollins found Amanda Hanneman behind the arc. Hanneman nailed a game-tying three-pointer with 15 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.

In the overtime session, Hollins scored eight consecutive Missouri points and Mizzou went up six, 63-57, when Jessra Johnson hit two free throws with 1:51 left. Clinging to a 65-62 lead with just 20 seconds on the clock, the Tigers hit 5-of-6 free throws to hold on for the 70-64 win.

Hollins named All-Big 12 HM
Senior Alyssa Hollins was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention for the second consecutive season. The guard is tied with teammate Jessra Johnson with a team high 13.0 ppg. to go with 3.4 rpg. She is one of two Tigers to start all 29 games this season and is fifth in the conference with 34.2 mpg.

A prolific three-point shooter, Hollins enters the Big 12 Championship with 56 treys this year to rank fifth in the MU single-season list. She needs two more threes to pass Tracy Lozier's 2002-03 mark of 57 for fourth place.

Last season Hollins set MU's single-season three-point mark with 90 and also owns the third-best outing in a year, 64, which she accomplished in 2006-07.

Hollins, Brown, Mills earn academic honors
Senior Alyssa Hollins, sophomore RaeShara Brown and redshirt freshman Bekah Mills were named to the Academic All-Big 12 first team, announced by the conference office on March 5. Hollins is now a three-time first team honoree while Brown and Mills made the team in their first year of eligibility.

In the 11 years under Head Coach Cindy Stein, 40 student-athletes have earned recognition on the Academic All-Big 12 teams.

Hollins selected to Mizzou `39
Alyssa Hollins was one of 39 University of Missouri seniors chosen to the 2009 class of Mizzou `39. The award program, created by the Mizzou Alumni Association in 2005, honors students in the spirit of service displayed by founding families of the University in 1839.

Hollins and the rest of the class selected for their academic achievement, leadership and service to the University and community. Recipients are selected by a committee of alumni and faculty that reviews the applications and conducts interviews. Recently Hollins and the other 38 seniors were publicly revealed for the first time at a ceremony on the Francis Quadrangle.

Missouri forcing miscues...
As a team Mizzou forces 18.9 turnovers per contest to rank second in the Big 12 behind Texas A&M's 22.5. The squad also ranks second with 9.8 spg., again behind the Aggies' 11.9 spg.

The Tigers have forced their opponents into at least 20 turnovers 12 times this season, including six times in conference action (Texas A&M = 20, Kansas = 20, Colorado = 23, 23, Baylor = 20, Texas = 23).

...and taking care of the ball
Missouri recorded a season low eight turnovers against Nebraska on Feb. 21, one less than the nine the Tigers committed on Nov. 22 against Western Illinois.

As a team the Tigers commit just 15.6 turnovers per game to rank sixth in the conference. Overall Mizzou ranks third in turnover margin with +3.3 and sixth with a 0.8 assist/turnover margin.

Brown stealing up a storm
Sophomore guard RaeShara Brown has 78 steals on the year to average a Big 12 best 2.7 spg. this season. In just league play, Brown has upped her average to 2.9 spg., still a Big 12 high. Over the past three games the guard has grabbed 13 steals for an average of 4.3 spg.

Brown's 78 swipes are 23 more than Alyssa Hollins' team high total from all of last year and rank seventh on Mizzou's single-season record book.

Hollins joins 1,000-point club
A jumper with 12:37 left in regulation against Holy Cross on Nov. 29 gave senior Alyssa Hollins the 999th and 1,000th points in her career, making the guard the 26th player in Mizzou history to record 1,000 points.

With 16 points against Texas Tech on March 7, Hollins now has 1,307 in her career, good for 15th place on the all-time list. She is five points shy of passing Mary Brueggestrass (81-85) for 14th place on the all-time list.

Mizzou knocks off ranked team
Missouri's upset of No. 14/16 Kansas State on Feb. 18 marked the first time in six tries the Tigers earned a victory over a ranked team this year.

The win also gave the Tigers a win over a top-25 team for the fourth consecutive season.

Mizzou one of youngest Big 12 teams
Missouri is tied as the youngest team in the Big 12, based on average year of a team's starters. The Tigers share the honor with Colorado. The calculation was based on a formula that counts class year as years of experience (senior = 4, junior = 3, sophomore = 2, freshman = 1).

Tigers hold block party
Mizzou recorded a season high 11 blocks against the Wildcats on Feb. 18, which is also the second highest total in the Big 12 this year. The 11 blocks were the most by the Tigers since the team recorded 11 against Oklahoma State on Jan. 4, 2005.

Additionally, Jessra Johnson's six blocks doubled the previous individual season high and stand one shy of the program single-game record of seven, held by Amanda Lassiter (vs. Western Kentucky; Dec. 4, 1999) and Stretch James (Missouri State [SMS]; Dec. 10, 2003). The forward's total was the most since James tied the program record over five years ago.

Hollins ups career three-point record
As a junior last year, senior Alyssa Hollins became the program's most prolific three-point field goal shooter, as she set Mizzou's career three-point record. With two treys against Texas Tech on March 7, she now has 222 in her career, 80 more than the second-best total.

Additionally, last season she made 90 threes to smash Amanda Lassiter's old single season mark of 65.

Brown a rebounding machine
At 5-8 sophomore RaeShara Brown is Mizzou's second shortest player yet the guard is second on the team with 6.1 rpg. Over the course of the season she has led the Tigers in rebounds 13 different games.

Brown's biggest night on the boards this year was an impressive 12 rebound outing, including four on the offensive end, against Holy Cross on Nov. 29.

Brown has a team high 65 offensive rebounds this year and has averaged a team high 7.5 rpg. over the past four contests. During that stretch she has also averaged 3.3 offensive rebounds per game.

Jones hitting her shots
Shakara Jones is shooting a team high 50.8 percent from the field in her sophomore campaign. The forward, who is one of two Tigers to start all 29 games, has made 125-of-246 shots this season for a team third-best 10.2 ppg.

Jones has shot over 50 percent in 20 games this year, including a season high 85.7 percent (6-7) against Texas A&M on Jan. 10.

Tigers hit mark against Buffs
Missouri hit shots early and often in the team's 66-55 victory over Colorado on Feb. 28. The squad ran out to a 33-29 advantage at the half thanks to 50 percent (15-30) shooting from the floor.

The Tigers kept the Buffaloes at bay in the second half and shot 48.1 percent (13-27) during the final frame. For the game Missouri shot 49.1 percent, the second best shooting percentage of the season.

Johnson on a roll
Junior Jessra Johnson was an offensive force in games from Feb. 17-28. The forward has averaged 18.8 ppg. in games against Kansas State (17), Nebraska, (23), Texas (16) and Colorado (19) and led the Tigers in points three of those four contests. Her 23-point outing was a season high and just one point shy of her career high.

Her rebounding had dropped to 6.5 rpg. following the Baylor game but Johnson recorded nine, 11, 10 and seven rebounds in those four games to get the average back up to 6.9 rpg.

Brown all over the floor
Sophomore RaeShara Brown showcased her all-around game in Mizzou's 66-55 victory over Colorado on Feb. 28. The guard scored 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor to go along with a team high eight rebounds and a career high-tying five steals.

Her 14 points were three shy of her career high of 17, also scored against Colorado on Jan. 24, 2009.

Mizzou finds stroke against KU
Against Kansas on Feb. 7 the Tigers shot a season high 51.7 percent (29-56) from the floor. The team shot just under 50 percent (15-31) from the field in the first half but found its stroke in the second, making 14-of-25 shots for 56 percent.

Juniors Jessra Johnson and Marissa Scott led the way as the pair shot 6-of-8 and 5-of-8 from the floor, respectively.

Missouri's previous best shooting game of the year was against Duquesne, when the squad shot 48.3 percent (28-58).

Tigers stun Kansas State
Junior Jessra Johnson narrowly missed a double-double with 17 points, nine rebounds and a career high six blocks as Missouri upset No. 14 Kansas State 52-43 at Mizzou Arena on Feb. 18. The win as Mizzou's first over a ranked team since March 11, 2008.

The Tigers recorded a season high 11 blocks and held the Wildcats to 30.8 percent shooting from the floor, their lowest average of the season.

Joining Johnson in double figures were senior Alyssa Hollins, who had 13 points, and sophomo re Shakara Jones, who added 12. Kansas State jumped out to an early lead but Mizzou closed its deficit to four, 12-8, with 15:22 remaining in the first. After Jalana Childs hit a jumper for a 16-10 Wildcat advantage, Mizzou responded with a seven consecutive points from Jones to take their first lead of the game, 17-16, at the 5:19 mark. With Missouri up one, 21-20, the home team reeled off the final five points of the half, including a layup from Johnson with just three seconds on the clock, for a 26-20 Mizzou halftime lead.

The Tigers scored the first seven points of the second frame to increase its lead to 11, 33-20, with 17:00 left in the contest. Kansas State responded with a 6-1 run to cut its deficit to eight, 34-26, at the 14:19 mark but a jumper by Jones one minute later brought the Mizzou advantage back to 10, 36-26.

Missouri's kept its double digit lead for most of the second half and gained its biggest lead of the night, 42-28, when Johnson sank a free throw at the 8:42 mark. Only a jumper from Wildcat Kelsey 11 seconds remaining brought the final margin to nine points, 52-43.

Johnson on fire against Wildcats, Huskers
Junior Jessra Johnson averaged a team high 20.0 ppg. and 10.0 rpg. in games against Kansas State and Nebraska. In the Tigers' 52-43 upset of No. 14 Kansas State the junior lead the way with team highs in points (17), rebounds (nine), blocks (career high nine), steals (three) and assists (two). Against Nebraska three days later Johnson recorded her third double-double of the season with a season high 23 points and 11 rebounds on 10-of-18 shooting from the floor and 3-of-5 shooting from behind the three-point line.

Johnson's six blocks against the Wildcats were the most by a Tiger since Stretch James tied Amanda Lassiter's single-game record with seven against Missouri State (Southwest Missouri State) on Dec. 10, 2003.

Eight in a row
Mizzou's 63-42 win Chicago State on Jan. 6 marked the team's eighth consecutive victory, dating back to a 69-63 comeback win over Northwestern on Nov. 30.

During the eight-game span, Missouri averaged 68.9 ppg. and allowed only 47.9 ppg., a +21.0 mark. Additionally the team is shot 43.4 percent from the field, grabbing 13.0 spg. and had a +7.8 turnover margin (15.9-23.6).

Mills earns weekly honor
Redshirt freshman guard Bekah Mills was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Week by a media voting panel for games Dec. 8-14.

Mills averaged a team high 14.5 ppg. and shot 72.7 percent (8-11) from the floor and 83.3 percent (5-6) from behind the arc during the week to help Mizzou record wins over Bradley and UT Martin. She scored a career high 16 points to go along with a personal best six rebounds in the Tigers' 83-54 victory over Bradley on Dec. 9 and notched 13 points and a career best six steals in Mizzou's 74-23 win against UT Martin on Dec. 14.

It was the first career honor for Mills and the first conference weekly award since EeTisha Riddle earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors on Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, 2006.

She is also the fifth Tiger to earn Rookie/Freshman of the Week honors, joining Julie Helm, Amanda Lassiter, Evan Unrau and Kassie Drew. Helm and Lassiter both earned the honor three times during their inaugural year with Mizzou.

Mizzou halts Arkansas' streak
The Arkansas Razorbacks entered their game with the Tigers on Dec. 21 riding a 25-game home non-conferece winning streak. The Razorbacks had not lost at Bud Walton Arena since a 66-64 defeat at the hands of Tulsa on Dec. 1, 2005. Mizzou put a stop to the streak as the visitors came back from eight points down with four minutes to play to pull out a 56-55 victory.

Tigers make them when it counts
Missouri entered the contest with Arkansas on Dec. 21 shooting just 57.8 percent from the free throw line and during the first 33 minutes of the game, it showed. Mizzou made just 3 of its first 15 attempts at the line.

However, a free throw from sophomore Jasmyn Otote with 6:47 left in the game got the team rolling, as Mizzou made its last 11 attempts from the charity stripe, including four in the final minute, to earn a 56-55 victory.

What points?
Missouri allowed only 23 points to UT Martin on Dec. 14, the second fewest points the program has allowed in its 34-year history. The total was two more than the all-time record of fewest points allowed, 21, in a 119-21 win over Bethany College on Jan. 3, 1977.

The 23 points were also the fewest ever scored by UT Martin since the school began 5-on-5 basketball.

Where are the field goals?
UT Martin managed to make only seven field goals during its game with Mizzou on Dec. 14. That marks the fewest field goals allowed for Missouri in at least 30 years.

The previous record for fewest field goals allowed by the Tigers in last 31 years was nine, in a 90-27 win over Missouri-Rolla on Dec. 2, 1998 (complete statistics for the 1975-76, 1975-76 and 1976-77 seasons could not be found).

Steals galore
Over a three-game span from Dec. 3-Dec. 14, the Tigers have racked up a total of 57 steals for an average of 19.0 spg. The team started its steal party with 17 against Toledo on Dec. 3 and then did one better when 18 against Bradley on Dec. 9. Five days later, the Tigers posted 22 steals, the highest total in the Big 12 this year.

Mizzou dishes out the assists
Against Holy Cross on Nov. 29, Mizzou was credited with an impressive 31 assists on its 37 field goals. The total was the most since Nov. 11, 1984, when Missouri dished out a team record 41 in a contest with Cleveland State.

The total stands as the best assist output by a Big 12 team this season.

Rare triple overtime game for Tigers
The triple overtime on Nov. 29 against Holy Cross, a 94-93 loss, was only the second such game in Mizzou's 34-plus year history. The only other triple overtime game was a 118-111 loss at Kansas on Jan. 29, 1983.

Johnson makes all-tournament team
In the DoubleTree White Invitational on Nov. 29-30, junior Jessra Johnson shot 8-of-14 from the field to post 19 points and nine boards in a come-from-behind win over host Northwestern and recorded 21 points, nine rebounds and three steals in a triple overtime loss to Holy Cross. The forward averaged 20.0 ppg. and 9.0 rpg. in the two games to earn all-tournament team honors.

Tigers sign prep recruit for 2009-10
Kansas City prep star Trenee Thornton signed a National Letter of Intent to enroll at the University of Missouri and play basketball, Head Coach Cindy Stein announced on Nov. 17.

"We are so excited to have such an outstanding young lady in Trenee Thornton," Stein said. "She brings good court sense and savvy and the ability to play any of the guard spots. She can create her own opportunities and get the ball to who you need to. Trenee prides herself on her defense and will be able to fit in well into the style of defense that we want to play."

Thornton averaged 19.4 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 4.2 apg., 3.8 spg. as a junior for Central High School in Kansas City, Mo. She earned Interscholastic League Most Valuable Player honors following the season, to go along with all-district, all-metro and all-state honors. Over her career, Thornton has averaged 14.6 ppg.

Mills finally hits the court
Redshirt freshman Bekah Mills finally hit the court in a Mizzou uniform in Missouri's exhibition contest with Southwest Baptist on Nov. 7. The Towanda, Kan., native missed all of last season due to a knee injury suffered during the preseason.

Mills is averaging 5.8 ppg., 3.1 rpg. to go along with 1.4 spg. this year.