Women's basketball takes tournament

The team only lost one game, to No. 11 Stanford, in the tournament.

By Ryan Huber

Published Nov. 28, 2006

Since MU women's basketball coach Cindy Stein began her tenure in 1997, her squad has started no worse than 5-1 in four of those nine seasons.

The 79-64 MU victory over host St. Mary's on Saturday not only brought its record to 6-1 but also clinched the title in the Hilton Concord Thanksgiving Classic.

The eight-day California road trip began with the team's only loss, 75-60, to No. 11 Stanford.

Tournament action began on Friday against a 5-3 Alabama squad. Play went back and forth as the first half ended 41-33 in the Tigers' favor. But the Crimson Tide responded with a 12-0 run to start the second half, forcing a late MU comeback. MU put a late 9-2 scoring run together to tie the game 67-67 with 2:08 left to play. Despite several questionable calls, the Tigers nailed four free throws in the past 20 seconds to secure the victory.

"It was great," senior center Tamika Jackson said. "I expected some bad calls. I was ready for it, and I think everyone else was too. We said, 'All right, we've got to stay in it, we can't let the referees take over the game.'"

The Tigers continued their momentum into the tournament championship game against St. Mary's, shooting 51 percent from the field and pulling down 42 rebounds.

Senior forward Carlynn Savant recorded her fifth career double-double in her 37 minutes of play. The Tigers received more offensive productivity from sophomore guard Alyssa Hollins, who had 15 points.

But with an MU season-high of 23 turnovers, it was the Tiger defense that had to step up. St. Mary's was held to just 37 percent shooting en route to a 79-64 Missouri victory.

"I think our defense has been doing very good, but we could be doing better," Jackson said. "At times we make some great plays, and if we keep working every day in practice we will get to the point that every possession we take it from them."