By BOB THOMPSON
of the Tribune's staff

From the moment the final horn sounded after the loss to Louisiana Tech in Pittsburgh Saturday, the Missouri women's basketball team began thinking about next year.

The 2-1 run in the team's first NCAA Tournament in seven years has done wonders for the Tigers' local and national exposure, and now they're determined to make sure success is not fleeting.

"Getting here is huge for us because all of those kids, even though they may not have gotten the time, they were here and they experienced the emotion and what goes on in the tournament," MU coach Cindy Stein said. "We're going to take them to France and Belgium in May to really build on the momentum we have going our way."

Stein's program certainly does have momentum. The Tigers exceeded optimistic projections in putting together one of the most successful seasons in the history of the women's program, finishing 22-10 and advancing to the Sweet 16 before bowing out against Louisiana Tech.

Stein hopes prospective recruits took notice, and that Missouri's success will attract a new legion of fans to add to its small, but loyal fan base this season.

"What a statement to the town of Columbia, and what more incentive do they need to come out and watch us play," freshman Evan Unrau said. "We wish we would've had more support all year long, but this proves that we're a good team and we have a lot of talent."

MU was picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll. The Tigers knew they were better than that. Led by reigning Big 12 newcomer of the year Amanda Lassiter and fellow seniors Marlena Willams and Tracy Franklin, Missouri rolled through its non-conference schedule with a 10-2 record, including a confidence-building win over Arkansas. The losses were a last-second defeat at Pepperdine and a December drubbing at the hands of Illinois in a renewal of the women's Border War series. Senior Amanda Lassiter helped lead the Tigers  to one of her best-ever seasons.

Tribune file photo

In Big 12 play, the Tigers took powerful Iowa State to the wire before losing by one point in Ames in a game that made people take notice. While Missouri was just 1-6 against teams in the top half of the conference standings, it took care of business against the others.

Still, a disappointing late-season loss to Baylor left MU wondering if it would see its NCAA Tournament dreams slip away. But the Tigers won their final three games, including a victory over No. 20 Colorado to finish 10-6 in the league. The fifth-place finish was MU's best ever in the Big 12, and it helped lock up the school's first NCAA Tournament bid since '94.

"We never gave up," Lassiter said. "Even when we were down or lost some games that we thought we should've won, we kept a good attitude and were able to bounce back. This team has such great chemistry that it was just a matter of time before it all came together."

While the Tigers weren't thrilled with their No. 10 seeding in the East Regional, they made the most of their opportunity. They badgered No. 25 Wisconsin, and they dogged No. 4 Georgia on its home court before being wrecked by No. 6 Louisiana Tech. Despite the 78-67 season-ending loss, the Tigers have reason to be optimistic.

Unrau will have an increased role after a great freshman year, and sophomores Kerensa Barr and Wannette Smith should only get better in the off-season.

Barr came on late in the year and displayed outstanding leadership and scoring ability at the point guard position, while Smith began to show promise at the post position.

The Tigers also saw flashes of good things from freshmen Terianne Wolford, Tracy Lozier, and Amy Loftus. MU will have just three seniors in guards Natalie Bright, Wendy Okeson and Christa Millham, but will gain the services of 6-foot-2 Melanie Fisher, a transfer from Southwest Missouri State who was ineligible this season.

MU has signed three recruits: Angie Carter, a 5-foot-10 forward from Longview, Texas, Megan Roney, a 6-3 post player from Truman High in Independence and 5-11 guard Lauren Podratz of Maple Grove, Minn.

The Tigers are also looking to land at least one player from the junior college ranks to help replace their heavy losses in Lassiter, Williams and Franklin.

With a May trip to Europe on the horizon, the players can't wait to get started again.

"In the preseason we're going to be running and thinking we want to get back in the Sweet 16 and we want to advance, so it's a big motivation," Unrau said. "This season showed us it was possible. We had a great team, and we made a great run."

Reach Bob Thompson at (573) 815-1781 or bthompson@tribmail.com