Coatney's Call: Missouri Preview

Nebraska vs. Missouri
Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 (7:05 p.m.)
Bob Devaney Sports Center (Lincoln, Neb.)
Radio: 25-Station Husker Sports Network (105.3 FM-Lincoln, 93.3 FM-Omaha, 880 AM-Lexington)
Internet: Free Live Audio on Huskers.com

Nebraska forward Jordan Hooper is having one of the best freshman seasons in Husker Women's Basketball history.  She leads the team in scoring (14.9 ppg) and leads all Big 12 freshmen in rebounding (6.8 rpg).  She will try and help lead Nebraska to a split in the season series with Missouri when NU hosts the Tigers this Tuesday night in Lincoln.  Hooper had a career-high 31 points when the two teams met earlier this season in Columbia. 
 
Missouri is 12-14 overall, 4-8 in league play after a heartbreaking 75-70 overtime loss at Kansas last Saturday.  The Tigers defeated the Huskers 76-69 on February 2 in a game that was dubbed "Snowpocalypse"  by local MU officials.  Between 17 and 20 inches of snow fell before the game in central Missouri, causing Nebraska to rearrange its travel schedule, spending parts of four days commuting to and from the game. 

RaeShara Brown, Missouri's 5-8 senior guard, had a huge game against the Huskers earlier this season.  She had 25 points, 22 of which came in the second half, including 12 straight in the final three minutes to lead Missouri back from a one-point deficit.  She leads MU in virtually every major statistical category (points, rebounds, steals, three-pointers, minutes and free throws. 

Sydney Crafton, a 5-10 sophomore guard, also had a memorable night against Nebraska earlier this month.  She had 17 first-half points en route to a career-high 19-point, 12-rebound effort.  Crafton has started 19 games and averages 7.0 ppg.  6-3 junior center Christine Flores   has been slowed by a broken finger, but is still second in the team in scoring (13.3 ppg).  6-2 senior forward Shakara 'Shaq' Jones had 11 points and six rebounds against NU in the first meeting this season and averages 10.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg on the season.  5-9 senior Jasmyn Otote (oh-TOE-tay) rounds out MU's probable starting lineup.  She has started every game this season and averages 4.4 ppg.

Robin Pingeton came to Missouri after seven seasons as the head coach at Illinois State.  She led the Redbirds to three Missouri Valley Conference titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances.  Prior to her tenure at ISU, she led St. Ambrose College to five NAIA National Tournaments in her eight seasons coaching her alma mater.
 
Nebraska leads the all-time series with Missouri 39-31.  The Huskers have won three of the last four and five of the last seven games against MU.  NU has also won four of the last five games in Lincoln against the Tigers including last season's 67-51 win.

I cordially invite you to join Jeff Griesch and me for Nebraska Women's Basketball on the Husker Sports Network.  Our radio broadcast Tuesday night begins with the Husker Courtside pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. (central) with the tip-off scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on KLNC 105.3 FM (WOW-FM) in Lincoln, KTWI 93.3 FM (Twister 93.3) in Omaha, KRVN 880 AM in Lexington, KCOW 1400 AM in Alliance, and available to our entire twenty-five network stations.  All Husker Women's Basketball broadcasts are also available for free worldwide on the internet at www.huskers.com.  I hope you can join us.  

Go Big Red! 

Matt