 Sports News Search Classifieds Tigers fall short in final minute
January 30, 2000 
With the decibel level reaching 105 at the Hearnes Center and Oklahoma visiting Missouri Saturday night, it seemed like the men’s basketball team was playing its second Big 12 Conference game of the day. But it was the women’s team, setting a new attendance record of 6,227 thanks to a $1 ticket promotion, that generated the excitement and noise.Unfortunately for the MU fans who flocked to Hearnes, their voices were not enough as the Tigers fell to the Sooners 76-71. Missouri (12-6, 2-5 conference) had numerous opportunities to even the score in the late stages of this game, but missed layups and free throws hurt them dearly. “A lot of the little breakdowns that we’ve been having are things that a young team together make,” said Missouri coach Cindy Stein. “That’s what we’re experiencing now.” With 43 seconds remaining in the game and the Tigers trailing 72-69 Missouri forward Amanda Lassiter made a crucial steal and had one Sooner defender to beat. Lassiter made a cut to the inside but missed the layup, the most costly of the Tiger mistakes during the final minutes that gave the game to No. 23 Oklahoma (17-3, 7-0). With the score 74-71, Sooner forward Stacey Dales was at the line to shoot two and missed both. However, the rebound went off a Missouri defender into the hands of the Sooners’ Acton Hill. She was fouled and made a free throw to put the Tigers away for good. “We live and die by our performance on the boards,” said Oklahoma coach Sherri Coal, whose team was out rebounded 25-17. “I feel very fortunate to get this win.” The Sooners were led by Phylesha Whaley, the team’s leader in points (19.4) and rebounds (8.3) per game. The forward had game-highs of 25 points and 10 rebounds. “She got really hot,” said Missouri forward Amy Monsees, who had the unenviable task of guarding Whaley for most of the night. “It was a real defensive task to stay with her. She hit a couple of threes in my face that were pretty crucial.” Monsees led the team with 16 points and guard Julie Helm added 15 points and nine rebounds coming off the bench. Missouri was rusty at the start missing its first three field goals. The Sooners jumped out to a 14-4 lead with 13:27 left in the first half when the record crowd began to make its presence known. Missouri then went on a 13-4 run to tie to tie the score at 17. At the half, the game was tied at 33. “I think the crowd threw us off at first, we had to get used to it,” said Stein. “We wanted this game so bad that we were rushing some things. The Tigers go on a two-game road trip this week, making stops at conference foes Oklahoma State and Kansas State. They return home Feb. 8 to take on Texas Tech. “I hope the crowd got a glimpse of what we can do,” Helm said.
Comments? E-mail News or Sports
|