Dec. 1, 2001

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri Lady Tigers used a 12-0 run at the end of the first half to open up a close game and cruised to a 80-62 victory over Southeast Missouri State in the championship game of the Unilever Lady Tiger Tournament on Saturday night.

Southeast was able to gain an advantage early in the game when sophomore guard Christine Rathke drove the lane and converted on an old-fashioned three-point play on the game's first possession. Unfortunately for the Otahkians (5-2) that would be the only lead they would hold all night.

Missouri (5-1) opened up a 19-9 lead at the 12:18 mark of the first half when Melanie Fisher converted a layup of a Amy Loftus steal for MU. Southeast would not wither in the first half, however, as the Otahks ran off a 7-0 run capped by a Rathke three-pointer to close the game to 19-16 with 8:09 to play. The teams battled closely until the 4:00 minute mark when Mizzou led 23-19. Evan Unrau, the MVP of the Lady Tiger Tournament, made two free-throws and then converted a layup to start the run. Senior point guard Natalie Bright then nailed a three-pointer before junior Kerensa Barr scored four consecutive points to push the MU advantage to 35-19 at the break.

The run was key as Southeast had hung around despite Lori Chase being held scoreless. They hung around thanks in part to a cold shooting half from Barr, the Big 12's leading scorer. Barr was only 1-10 to start the first half as both team's struggled early.

Mizzou would score the first four points of the second half to extend its run to 16-0 before Southeast center Pam Iversen stopped the run with a bucket. Mizzou would extend its lead to as many as 30, last at 68-38 with 9:12 to play. With the game out of reach Southeast could have easily folded and lost by 50, but Southeast would make one last run behind a great half from newcomer Ta Keela Ball. Ball scored 10 second half points as Southeast was able to close within 18 at the buzzer, at 80-62.

The 10 points were a career-high for Ball. Freshman walk-on Candice Coffey scored four points, also a career-high.

Mizzou shot 51.4% from the field in the second half as they were led by 21 points and 10 rebounds from Barr. Unrau added 13 points and Bright 11.

Southeast shot a season low 36.9% from the field for the game. Rathke led the Otahkians with 18 for the second straight game. Veronica Benson added 11 for Southeast. Chase was held to a season-low seven points on 1-7 shooting and five rebounds. Chase had scored in double figures in the previous six games this season.

Rathke and Chase were both named to the all-tournament team along with Barr and Unrau, Pam Matthews of Southeastern Louisiana and Kristin Rogers of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi defeated Southeastern 97-48 in the consolation game to claim third place.

"We closed pretty decently," Otahkian coach Ed Arnzen said after the game. "But we were flat in the first half and got beat by a much better team. We had some good looks we just couldn't hit the jumpers tonight. Our inside players didn't get much done tonight but they are some bright spots to take away from the game. Keela and Cindy both had strong games that they can build on. We have to learn from this game and prepare better for the next game. We just need a better effort."

Southeast will travel to DeKalb, Illinois to battle Northern Illinois on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m.. The game will mark the final road game before a 3-week Christmas break. Southeast will have one more home contest before Christmas, against Samford next Saturday night as part of a doubleheader with the men's team. Otahkian tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.