MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois women's basketball team hits the road to begin a four-game road trip as it heads to Columbia, Mo., for a non-conference match-up against Missouri, Saturday, November 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at The Mizzou Arena.
The Matchup
Who: Western Illinois (1-1, 0-0) at Missouri (0-2, 0-0)
Date: November 22, 2008
Tip-off: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Arena: The Mizzou Arena
The Western Sports Network Broadcast
Radio: WIUS (88.3 FM Macomb)
Ryan Thomas, play-by-play announcer
Kevin Pomazal, color analyst
Web: wiuathletics.com
Live WIUS radio broadcast (free)
Live stats (free)
The Series
Series Record: Western Illinois trails 6-1
First Meeting: 1975-76 (Missouri won 78-65)
Last Meeting: Mar. 19, 2003 (Missouri won 72-69 in 2 OT)
Streak: Missouri, 2 games
Game Notes
SCOUTING MISSOURI
The Tigers have begun the 2008-09 season 0-2 after dropping games to Summit League member South Dakota State (55-50) and rival Illinois (65-55). Senior guard Alyssa Hollins is one of three Missouri players averaging double-digit point totals. Hollins is averaging 14.5 points per game, while sophomore Shakara Jones and junior Jessra Johnson are averaging 12.0 and 10.5 ppg respectively. Sophomore RaeShara Brown has chipped in with 5.0 ppg and has pulled down 7.5 rebounds per game.
AGAINST THE TIGERS
Missouri leads the all-time series against the Westerwinds, 6-1. The first game occured during the 1975-76 season with the Tigers taking a 78-65 win in Columbia. The lone win for Western against the Tigers was December 11, 1997 in a 68-66 overtime win in Western Hall. Missouri has won two-straight meetings between the teams, including the last game, a 72-69 double overtime game.
FAMILIAR FACE ON THE OPPOSING BENCH
When Western Illinois head coach Leslie Crane takes the floor the game against the Tigers, a familiar face will be on the opposing sidelines. Current Missouri assistant coach Doshia Woods played two seasons while under Coach Crane at Western Illinois. The Topeka, Kan., native graduated in 2001 and scored 505 points in just 57 games. Her 62 three-point field goals made in the 2000-01 season is still the top number in Western history for a single season.
The 2001 All-Mid-Continenet Conference second team selection is in her first season at Missouri and also serves as the team's recruiting coordinator.
CAREER NIGHT
Several Westerwinds had career nights in the 70-53 win against Robert Morris, led by senior Nicole Myers who tied a career bests with points (16) and set a new career best in rebounds (13), giving the Palmyra, Mo., native her first career double-double. Sophomore Lindsey Wutt tallied 13 points against the Eagles, giving her a new career best. Junior Katy Clark's 11 points tied a career high, while her six rebounds matched her highest output of her career set during her freshman season.
Junior Jordon O'Brien didn't miss a free throw in her eight attempts, setting a new career best for the Parsons, Kan., native. O'Brien also recorded a personal record in steals with 4.
RECORD WATCH
Senior Amanda Walker is currently on several of the Westerwinds' career top-10 charts. The Hampshire, Ill., currently lands on five career charts, including a No. 2 spot for free-throw percentage (.821 (128-156)). The guard is also fifth in career assists with 187.
Walker also made it onto the top-10 for three point shots attempted (4th-288), and three-point shooting percentage (10th-.326 (94-288)). Her 94 career three-pointers made puts her at fifth all-time at Western. She needs just four three-point field goals to move ahead of Rita Castans (2000-04) for fourth and its just 39 behind Dierdre LaFrance (1993-97), the all-time leader with 133 three-point shots made.
PRESEASON POLL
In a poll voted on by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and selected media members, the Western Illinois women's basketball team was picked to finish in the top half of The Summit League's preseason poll.
The Westerwinds received 241 total points, sliding in at the fifth spot, 15 points ahead of North Dakota State to round out the top half of the poll.
South Dakota State tallied 428 total points, along with 23 first-place votes, to finish as the preseason favorites to win The Summit League championship. Oakland (371 total points) and Oral Roberts (358 total points) each received three first-place votes to finish second and third respectively. IUPUI was the other team to finish ahead of Western, gathering 313 total points
North Dakota State was the only other team to receive a first place vote. IPFW (177), UMKC (140), Southern Utah (103) and Centenary (93) rounded out the poll.
CRANE AWARDED CONTRACT EXTENSION
Western Illinois University Director of Athletics Dr. Tim Van Alstine recently announced that Leslie Crane has signed a six-year contract extension to continue her tenure as the head coach of the women's basketball program through the 2013-14 season.
The contract extension, which includes numerous academic and athletic incentives, will make Crane one of the highest paid coaches in The Summit League and put her above the national salary average for Division I FCS schools.
ON THE AIRWAVES
This season all games can be heard live on WIUS 88.3 FM and on the internet at www.wiuathletics.com. Links to each broadcast are available on the women's basketball "Schedule/Results" page. Click on the speaker to link to the broadcast. Play-by-play is provided by Ryan Thomas, while color commentary is added by Kevin Pomazal.
WATCHING THE WESTERWINDS
Live stats for all games can be accessed through the women's basketball "Schedule/Results" page on www.wiuathletics.com.
All home games, conference road games and select non-conference road games can be viewed live via Rocky Vision on www.wiuathletics.com.
UP NEXT
Western continues its four-game road trip with a visit to Cedar Falls, Iowa, as they take on Northern Iowa, Tuesday, November 25, at The McLeod Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:35 p.m.
