New 3-point threats take over for graduated star

Newly healthy Hanneman has stepped in for the graduated Hollins.

By John Montesantos

Published Dec. 11, 2009

In her four years as a Tiger, guard Alyssa Hollins built up quite a resume shooting the long ball. By the end of her junior year, she was already the program leader in 3-pointers and had made a record 90 in a single season. She also led the Missouri women's team in scoring during both her junior and senior seasons.

In 2009, Hollins was the lone player to graduate. After leading the team in 3-pointers for three straight years, she left behind some big shoes to fill. Thus far, her absence has led new players to step up from beyond the arc.

Eight games into the season, senior forward Amanda Hanneman has answered the call. She averages more than three 3-pointers a game this season and has led the team in scoring on three occasions.

Other Tigers who consistently score from 3-point range have been senior forwards Marissa Scott and Jessra Johnson. Each of them makes about one 3-pointer a game and Scott has hit a few clutch triples late in games this year.

Of those three players, Hanneman is the one who has truly come out of nowhere. The sharp-shooting forward came into the season averaging 4.6 points per game for her career. Recurring injuries had always held her back in the past.

Now fully healthy, Hanneman is second on the team in scoring and has become Missouri's biggest threat from the outside, coach Cindy Stein said.

"I think Amanda is a great shooter," Stein said. "I want her to shoot every time she has an open look."

The go-ahead from the coach has built her confidence, but open looks at the basket have become few and far between as opponents continue to take notice.

"Her moment of that look is getting smaller and smaller because people are keying on her," Stein said. "But she is finding ways around that."

Clearly Hanneman is still finding a way to get her shots. She has scored from beyond the arc in all but one contest this season and has hit six 3-pointers in two of them. She attributes her shooting success to her ability to focus on what she's doing, rather than what she's done.

"I'm not going to hit every shot," Hanneman said. "But even though I missed the first few shots, you just have to keep shooting. That's what I say to myself every time."

Missouri's 3-point prowess was displayed in its blowout win over Texas-Pan American on Thursday.

After trading baskets with the Broncos for the first few minutes, the Tigers went on a 15-0 run provided entirely on 3-pointers. Three bombs from Hanneman, one from Scott and another from junior guard Jasmyn Otote started a string of Missouri scoring that continued until the final buzzer.

The Tigers employed Hanneman's shooting philosophy during the run, as the five straight 3-pointers came after the team missed its first five attempts from deep to start the game.

Missouri will continue its long home stand as it takes on Murray State at 1 p.m. Sunday.