"It’s the only way we can get over .500 in the conference," said Tiger guard Kerensa Barr.

The math is just that simple. But to surpass the .500 plateau the Tigers (12-5, 3-3 Big 12) must be able to pull out their first conference road win of the season when they travel to Lincoln to take on a Nebraska team that has a deceptive 9-10, 1-4 record.

The Cornhuskers are currently on a four-game conference losing streak, with the losses coming against four of the five ranked Big 12 teams.

"You can’t take anyone lightly in the Big 12," Barr said. "We need a win, but they need a win probably worse than we do. So their backs are against the wall, and they’re going to come out fighting. Hopefully we’ll be able to match their intensity."

Missouri is led by its dynamic duo of forward Amanda Lassiter and center Marlena "Pep" Williams. They are the only Tigers averaging double figures, with Lassiter scoring 20.1 points per game (fourth in the Big 12) and Williams 12.3.

"Amanda and Pep are still our main scorers, and we need to balance that out a little more," Barr said. "I know that coach is looking for me, Tracy Franklin and Natalie Bright and others to score a little more and that way take a little pressure off Pep and Amanda."

The Tigers have had a week since their last game, a 65-60 home win over Kansas State last Saturday. Missouri is well rested and refreshed after playing four games in 10 days, including tough road losses at No. 25 Colorado, a 98-90 loss on Jan. 14, and No. 7 Iowa State, a 68-67 defeat on Jan. 17.

"We needed the week off a lot," Barr said. "I think a lot of us, especially those who played a lot of minutes, were really fatigued after those games. ... I think it was really helpful and hopefully it will give us our legs back so we can be ready for Nebraska."

Nebraska’s disparity in scoring is even greater than Missouri’s. Senior Casey Leonhardt, who averages 13.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks per game, is the only Cornhusker averaging double figures. The 6-foot-5 center scored a career-high 25 points and pulled down nine rebounds in Cornhuskers’ 87-69 loss at CU.

With Leonhardt carrying the offensive load, Nebraska is second to last in the conference in scoring (67.1 points per game), compared to Missouri’s 79.2 points per game (fifth in the Big 12). But the Cornhuskers will be at home.

"It’s tough to play on the road in the Big 12. Everybody’s fan support is so huge," Bright said. "It’s a mindset and we have to get over that I think and Nebraska is a good place to play to get over that."