Bear Talk The newsletter for athletics at Southwest Missouri State University

Volume 17, Number 1 December 1998 Lady Bears ranked at the top oach Cheryl Burnett's Lady Bears McDowell and guards Melody Campbell are picked to win the 1998-99 and Starr Ryan. CMissouri Valley Conference basket­ The talented freshman class includes ball crown. In this year's preseason poll, 6'5" Dzenata Kadic, the tallest Lady Bear they edged Drake for the top spot. ever; 6'3" Ann Cavey, who holds the Iowa Burnett labeled the lofty ranking a state high school rebounding record; 6' 1" "tremendous compliment to ow- upperclass­ Katie Handley; and 5' 11 " Brandi Robinson. men and ow- recruiting class. As the Lady Bears approached the "We' ll smile, accept the compliment, Preseason Women's National Invitation and realize that the only poll that matters is Tournament Nov. 13, Burnett said, "We're at the end of the year," Burnett says. just trying to get as good as we can." This year's Lady Bear quint promises to She didn' t have to add, "In as short a be a blend of veterans and newcomers, time as possible," although with the with nine returnees and five additions. WNIT's mid-November opening and the Jackie Stiles, 5' 8", led the Missouri flurry of games that followed, it was evi­ Valley in scoring, along with the nation's dent the team had a long way to go in a [Teshrnen, with a 20.6 average a year ago. short time, especially on defense, which Roshonda Reed, a 6-footer, averaged Burnett termed, "a cause for concern." 13 .6 points a game. She's the team's lead­ In addition to the NIT tourney, there is ing returning rebounder and ranks lOth on a tougher-than-usual preconference slate the school's all-time career scoring list. before the team turns its attention to the Two other starters return: senior guard Missouri Valley schedule. League play Yen Quach and junior guard Sarah Singer. starts at Wichita State Dec. 27 and also Quach, 5'2", was last year's MVC includes a game at Evansville Dec. 29. Newcomer of the Year. Singer has been a The conference home opener is against steady and consistent two-year force, starting Creighton on Jan. 2. 56 of 57 contests. "We look at the year as three differ­ The team's only other junior, 6' 1" ent, distinct seasons: the preconference, Rachel Johnson, was a strong preseason the conference and the postseason," force in practice, making her presence felt says Burnett. from the get-go. And like she said last year following Another sophomore, 5'8" transfer guard the loss to Notre Dame in the first round Tara Mitchem, is expected to make an of the NCAA tournament, "It's not just immediate impact. good enough to be here. We need to do In the Nov. 9 exhibition game against Myjava Club of The returning "soph pack" also fea­ something." BT Slovakia, sophomore guard Tara Mitchem, one of two Springfield natives on the team, scored one field goal in tures forwards Carly Deer and Kimberly three attempts, assisting the Lady Bears to a 76-66 victory. Alford's Bears tabbed second in the league f conference prognosticators are cor­ Conference title. Second-best in the 22, then close out 1998 with an MVC rect, the basketball Bears will be in the league, a notch below favored Creighton, contest at Northern Iowa Dec. 30. Then, on I hunt for the Missouri Valley was the pick in this year's preseason poll. Jan. 2, SMS plays the last of four games Which is fine with Coach Steve with the state of Missouri's other Division I Alford and his Bears - for now. teams, meeting Charlie Spoonhow-'s Alford and company make it plain, Billikens in St. Louis. however, their goal is winning the No one is more anxious to see what championship. November and December hoid than "Until you break through and win Alford, who is beginning his fourth year at the regular season championship, you the Bear basketball helm. haven't achieved what has to be your "Last year's team wasn't as effective primary goal," says Alford. either on offense or defense as we need­ Two Bears are named to the presea­ ed to be," says Alford. "I feel our son all-league team: senior center recruiting has largely answered these Danny Moore and junior guard Kevin problems and has given us increased Ault. The two led the Bears in scoring speed and quickness." a year ago, with Moore averaging 15.7 SMS was 16-16 a year ago, but came points a game and Ault 14.8. within an eyelash of the MVC tourney title. Meanwhile, the Bears have a lot of Although this year's Bears are shorter knitting to tend to before league play than last year's squad, Alford notes, "We heats up in earnest in January. With have the potential to have a better shooting the Chase National Invitation team. A lot of our guys can shoot the ball. In Tournament (the preseason NIT) fact, we have nine who can shoot the three." already under their belt, they face a In the opening weeks of practice, extra road game at Butler, an imposing emphasis was placed on defense. "Since December home slate, and two all­ we have so many guys who can shoot the important MVC tests (both on the ball, playing time will probably be dis­ road). After opening their regular persed by who will go out and guard on season home schedule against the other end," says Alford. Missouri-Kansas City on Nov. 23, Visitors in the Pizza Hut Classic are In the Nov. 7 exhibition game against Athletes in Action, the Bears host the annual Pizza Hut Texas Southern, the Bears' Friday night junior guard Kevin Ault, who is the SMS career leader in Classic Dec. 4-5, host Long Beach foe, Texas-Pan American and Louisiana free-throw percentage (. 881 ), scored four field goals on Dec. 9 and Southeast Missouri Dec. Tech. BT nine attempts, two of which were three-pointers.

1 Passing yardage key in three-win streak Homecoming win first in five years

ere's a memo to Bear grid fans There was more good everywhere: Put a big checkmark news the following week: a Hbeside the score of the 1998 28-13 Gateway Conference Homecoming football game played at victory over Southern Plaster Field Oct. 24: SMS 45, Southeast Illinois, also at Plaster Field. Missouri 10. The Bears' second-half Not only did the Bears click on all play was almost a carbon cyclinders, especially in the second half, copy of the previous week, but they also decisively brought to an end especially on defense. a four-game Homecoming losing streak. "For our defense to shut "Obviously, it was a big win for us," . down an offense like Southern says Coach Del Miller. "We had a lot of big Illinois has, and to limit it to plays on both sides of the ball and some only three second-half points, clutch efforts when we had to have them." is tremendous. The Salukis The Bears led 17-10 at halftime before came into the game with the breaking it open. The third quarter hero­ league's leading rusher and ics included two touchdown passes - a one of the Gateway's top 64-yard pass play from quarterback quarterback-receiver combina­ Derek Jensen to wide receiver Robert tions," says Miller. Rose on the fourth play of the quar- ter and an 18-yarder to Sean Adams. Minutes later, running back Corey McGriff made it into the end zone on an 8-yard run, and he capped the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 5-yard scamper. For the game, the Bears rolled up 445 yards, including 320 through In the Nov. 7 win against Illinois State, sophomore wide the air. Yet it was the running game receiver Robert Rose caught two passes for 11 yards. that gave the Bears a big boost. Rose has an average of 44.3 yards per game through Maurice Daniels scored on a 45- nine games this season. yard run in the Bears' first series The 49-42 conference victory Nov. 7 and had 97 yards for the game. again st Illinois State came late in the Southeast, which entered the game _ game. Less than a minute before half­ averaging 150 yards on the ground, time, the score was 14-34, with the was limited to 75 yards rushing. Bears down by 20. "We wanted to get the ball in In the fifth quarter Homecoming action on Oct. 24, ''I'm sure a lot of radios got turned off Daniels's bands more," says Miller, Chubby Checke1; left, was joined by sophomore lineback­ at that point," says Miller. "The great "but their defensive alignment ers Mike Lindsley, cente1; and Corky Martin, right, in the famous "Twist." thing was, when I looked out at our play­ opened up the pass." As for Daniels's ers, I saw that we didn't have a group big run early, Miller notes, "He has that was quitting out there." the knack for finding the opening." And for the second week in a row, Then the momentum started to change. It was a great day passing for Jensen, Jensen and Daniels formed a potent one­ The Bears completely shut ISU out of the who completed 18 of 25 passes for 271 two offensive punch. Jensen completed end zone in the third quarter, only allow­ yards. His favorite target, sophomore 16 of 23 passes for 125 yards and two ing one more touchdown in the final. Rose, had four catches for 100 yards. touchdowns. Daniels rushed for 120 "It was a game that made everyone real­ Miller was visibly upset about a devas­ yards, which included a 16-yard touch­ ize our team's potential," says Miller. "Our tating string of first half penalties that down run. Three of Jensen's passes were guys expected to win and carne back from "we had to get corrected at halftime." caught by Rose. a huge deficit to make it happen." BT Young volleyball Btears_experienced both Qeaks and valleys - .. -,.-, - outh, youth, and more youth. The team ended its home season That was the story of Coach with a peak - they bested Creighton Y Melissa Stokes's Volleyball in straight sets 15-5, 15-1 2 and 15-6. Bears in 1998. As they ended their Hammons Student Last August, when practice began, Center slate, they upped their record Stokes welcomed a 10-player squad th at to 9-18 , in cludin g 4-10 in the MVC. included just four returnees: the squad's Ju st the day before, agai nst Drake, lone senior, Jessica Brester, junior there had been another peak. Omar Joleen Meservy and sophomores Audra extended her streak of double-doubles Akin and Brooke Karges. (kill s, digs) to 10. And against The other six were newcomers: junior Creighton in the finale, she led the Lani Kim, who transferred to SMS from Bears with 18 kills. Idaho last January; redshirt freshman A week earlier, Omar and another Deborah Sangel; freshmen Natalie junior, middle blocker DeBerry, were Jacksha and Emily Hodel; and a pair of both named to the Wichita Shocker juco transfers, Amanda Omar and Classic all-tournament team. Lakesha DeBerry. Meservy exited the Nov. 7 game Compounding the equation was a against Evansville with 1,029 career kills, strong schedule that included matches ninth on the all-time SMS kill chart. The against seven teams which had competed British Columbia native also ranked sec­ in the 1997 NCAA tournament, including ond on the all-time assist chart with 1,705. Illinois State from the always-tough Overall, there were a number of Junior middle blocker Lakesha DeBerry, the Missouri Valley Conference. hi ghs fo r the year, especially consider­ first SMS- West Plains product to play for the As is usually the case with a young ing the team's youth. Bears, is ranked fifth in. the MVC for block average (1 .23) with 136 total blocks after 111 team like the Bears, there were valleys, And plenty of potential for 1999. BT games this season. as well as peaks. 2 .... Bear Briefs

Lady Bear Basketball breakfasts - Basketball Radio Network- All Bear games are broadcast Coach Cheryl Burnett's basketball break­ on the 13-station SMS Basketball Radio Network, originated by fast is held at 7 a.m. on the first and third flagship station KTXR (101.3 FM) in Springfield, and including Tuesdays of the month during the season. KKOZ (92.3 FM) in Ava, KKCA (100.5 FM) in Fulton, KUNQ The breakfast is at Mrs. O'Mealey's (99.3 FM) in Houston, KQYX (1560 AM) in Joplin, KFEZ (1340 Cafeteria at 210 East Sunshine. The cost is AM) in Kansas City, KTMO (99 FM) in Kennett, KKBL (95 .9 $4.51, and the public is invited to attend. FM) in Monett, KUPH (96.9 FM) in Mountain View, KLID (1340 Remaining breakfasts are Dec. 1 and 15, AM) in Poplar Bluff, WRTH (1430 AM) in St. Louis, KSMO Jan. 5 and 19, Feb. 2 and 16, and March 2. (1340 AM) in Salem and KLPW (1220 AM) in Washington. Art Hains and Ned Reynolds describe the home games and Hains and Lady Bears' basketball on the radio Mark Stillwell call the road contests. - All Lady Bear games are broadcast SMS games also can be accessed via long distance telephone live by Springfield radio station KTXR through TEAM-LINE, a division of TRZ Sports Service. Fans On Oct. 16 fans got their (101.3 FM). In case of conflict with SMS may call 1-800-846-4700 and the SMS team code of 3582 to hear first glimpse of the Lady men's games, KWTO (560 AM) will air any part or all of the radio broadcast. Bear basketball team at the Lady Bears' games. Tom Ladd will The broadcast is also available on the internet at "Late Night with the Lady Bears" whichfeatured call the play-by-play, while former Lady http:/ /www.ktxrfm.com. La.dy Bear autographs and Bear standout Lisa Davies will provide player introductions. color commentary at home games. SMS The Steve Alford Show - The Steve Alford Show with Senior forward Roshonda Assistant SID Michael Sullivan will be Coach Steve Alford is aired Saturdays at noon throughout the sea­ Reed scored j1 ve field Ladd's broadcast partner for road con­ son by KYTV, channel3. The shows are hosted by Ned Reynolds goals in 11 attempts in the Nov. 15 WNIT against tests. SMS games also can be heard live and will continue through Feb. 27. Indiana State Uni versity. anywhere in the world via the internet at http://www.ktxrfm.com. $MS softball top MVC team in NFCA All-Academic rank· mgs - The SMS softball program, fresh off its third straight dy Bear Talk- Lady Bear Talk with Cheryl Burnett will be MVC championship, has added another accolade to its portfolio held throughout the 1998-99 Lady Bear basketball season at Tres for the 1998 season. Head Coach Holly Hesse's team was ranked Hombres at 3371 East Montclair. The remaining shows are Nov. 11th in the national Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Academic 25, Dec. 9, 16 and 22, Jan. 5, 12, 19 and 26, and Feb. 2, 9, 16 and Honor Roll among all NCAA Division I schools during the 1997- 23. All shows start at 7 p.m. except Dec. 22 which begins at 6:30 98 academic year. p.m. The public is invited to attend the hour-long show, which The Bears' team cumulative grade point average of 3.24 also airs live on KWTO (560 AM) with host Tom Ladd. The call-in was the top GPA in the MVC. numbers are 862-9977 local, 1-800-375-0056 toll-free or *56 cel­ The Bears, one of just 13 teams which have made the NCAA lular. March dates will be added depending on the MVC and field each of the last three seasons, open the 1999 campaign at NCAA Tournament schedules. the University of Oklahoma Softball The Cheryl Burnett Show- The Cheryl Burnett Show with Invitational on Feb. 19 Coach Cheryl Burnett is aired on Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. through­ at Norman, Okla. out the season by KYTV, channel 3. The shows are hosted by Ned Reynolds and continue through Feb. 27. Men's soccer team returns to national Former Dolphin trainer joins SMS staff- SMS has com­ standings - After pleted its athletic training staff with the addition of Robert finishing the 1997 season DeLong, who replaces John Kaltenbom, as a new athletic trainer ranked 23rd in the nation for SMS teams. by the NSCAA!Umbro DeLong received his undergraduate degree in men's top 25 coaches sports medicine and athletic training in 1994 at poll, the SMS men's soc­ Barry University in Miami and earned a master's cer team (6-2-0) has degree in sports administration from Northwestern emerged back into the State University in 1997. For the past year, he has national spotlight. In the been head athletic trainer at Hialeah-Miami Lakes Oct. 5 ESPN!Soccer Senior High. In addition, he has worked at summer Times poll, SMS was training camps for four years for the Arizona ranked 25th in the nation. Cardinals and three years for the Miami Dolphins The Bears, currently and also worked for the Dolphins during the 1991 Robert DeLong ranked third in the Senior midfielder Paul }ost, right, who ranks fifth NFL regular season. Midwest region behind and 14th, respectively, in career qssists (15) and Creigfiton and Saint scoring (29) on SMS's all-time charts, has started SMS takes third in Pepsi SMS Golf Challenge - At the Louis, began the in seven of nine matches played this season. eighth annual Southwest Missouri State Challenge, sponsored this defense of their 1997 year by Pepsi and held Oct. 26-27, senior Jason Whitesell led the MVC championship Oct. 8 at Evansville, Ind. BT Bears with an 8-over-par total of 224 (75-75- 7 4) and finished tied for seventh in the 81- player field. The SMS trio of junior David The Bears Fund donors support the university's athletic program by Hemstad and seniors Rohan Allwood and contributing at any of these levels- Hall of Fame Club, $10,000 or Bill Welter each carded a 9-over-par 225 to more; All-American Club, $5,000 or more; Champions Club, $2,500 finish in a six-way tie for ninth. Bear Talk Vol. 17 , No. 1 or more; Diamond Bears Club, $1 ,250 or more; Gold Bears Club, $600 or more; Silver Bears Club, $300 or more; Bruin Club, $150 or ~+ more; Cub Club, $50 or more. For infonnation concerning The Basketball luncheons - Coach Steve Selected for the Bears Fund, contact Brent Dunn, director of athletics development, Alford's basketball luncheon is held at noon John Templeton Foundation SMSU, (417) 836·4143. on Wednesdays during the season, with a Honor Roll for Southwest Missouri State University is a community of people with few exceptions. The luncheon is in Character-Building Colleges respect for diversity. The university emphasizes the dignity and Kentwood Hall at 700 St. Louis. The cost is equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict nondiscrim· $7.50, and the public is invited to attend. ination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff and The luncheons will begin Dec. 2 and students. In addition, in accord with federal law and applicable Editors Missouri statutes, the university does not discriminate on the basis will run through Feb. 24, except Dec. 23 Stacey Funderburk and Bethany Brown of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability and 30 when there will be no luncheon due Writers or veteran status in employment or in any program or activity offered to the Christmas holidays. Also, there will Paul Kincaid, Don Payton, Michael Sullivan and Mark Stillwell or sponsored by the university. The university maintains a grievance Photography procedure incorporating due process available to any person who be Tuesday luncheons Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 SMSU Photographic Services believes he or she has been discriminated against. Southwest and 16. In addition, there will be a coaches Missouri State University Is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action luncheon Dec. 4 at University Plaza for Bear Talk is produced for The Bears Fund donors by the Office of employer. Inquiries concerning the grievance procedure, Affinnative the Pizza Hut Classic. Publications in cooperation with the Department of Athletics and the Action program, or compliance with federal and state laws and Development and Alumni Office of Southwest Missouri State guidelines should be addressed to Melissa Manning, Affinnative University, 901 S. National, Springfield, Mo., 65804. Third class Action Officer, Office of Human Resources, 128 Carrington Hall, 901 postage paid at Springfield, Mo. S. National, Springfield, MO 65804, (417) 836·4252. Bear Talk Non-Profit Organization Southwest Missouri State University U.S. Postage PAID 901 S. National Avenue Springfield, MO ..• Springfield , Missouri 65804-0089 Permit No. 1555

SMS Schedules Basketball (Men & Women) Swimming & Diving (Men & women)

MEN MEN Nov. 23 University of Mo.-Kansas City 7:05p.m. Dec. 4-5 Ark-Little Rock Invitational 10 a.m. Springfield Little Rock, Ark. Dec. 4-5 Pizza Hut Classic 6:05p.m. Springfield 9 Long Beach State University 7:05p.m. WOMEN Springfield Dec. 4-5 Ark-Little Rock Invitational 10 a.m . 12 *Southern Illinois University (KYTV) 7:05p.m. Little Rock, Ark. Carbondale, Ill. Senior guard 19 Texas Christian University 7:05p.m. Freshman Ryan Springfield freestyler Bettenhausen, 22 Southeast Mo. State University 7:05p.m. Cydney Francis the only Bear to Springfield achieved the have played in 30 *University of Northern Iowa 7:05p.m. team's fastest all 93 games of Cedar Falls, Iowa time for the Coach Steve 1,000-yard Alford's first WOMEN freestyle three seasons Nov. 28 University of Southern California 6:30p.m. (10:46.48) in the with the Bears, Cancun, Mexico Oct. 30 meet scored two field 29 Old Dominion University 9 p.m. against Io wa goals in five Cancun , Mexico State. On that attempts in the Dec. 2 Baylor University 7 p.m. same day, Nov. 14 NIT Waco, Texas Francis also tied against Butler 5 Providence College 3 p.m. her own team University in Providence, R.I. record in the Indianoplis, Ind. 8 University of Arkansas (TCI) 7:05p.m. 500-yard Springfield freestyle Bold - home events 13 Florida International University 2:05p.m. (5: 16.78). Springfield * - conference play 21 Brigham Young University 7:05p.m. KYTV - games on Springfie ld channel 3 Sprintield 27 *Wichita S a,te University (MVC-TV) 2:05p.m. TCI - games on cable channel 36 Wichita, Kan. 29 *University of Evansville 7 p.m. MVC-TV- games on Fox Midwest, cable channel 51 Evansville, Ind.

Indoor Track (Men & women)

MEN Head Baseball Coach Keith Jan. 9 Illinois State University Open 10 a.m . Guttin was roasted at the SMS Normal, Ill. Celebrity Baseball Roast Oct. 22. Guttin, who was selected as WOMEN the American Baseball Coaches Jan. 9 Illinois State University Open 10 a.m. Association Division I Midwest Normal, Ill. Region Coach of the Year in 1997, enters his 16th campaign at SMS this year. He took over Senior sprinter/jumper as the Bears ' head coach in Michelle 1983, assuming the reigns of a Baptiste set SMS program in its first year at the records in both Division I level and inheriting the 60-meter the program from the only pre­ dash (7.57) and the long jump vious baseball coach in SMS (20'111/4 ") in history, current Director of the 1997 season. Athletics Bill Rowe.