By JASON STACY
Missourian staff

Between the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons, the MU women's basketball team lost three key players, an assistant coach and brought in six new players.

Even without third all-time leading scorer Julie Helm, Amy Monsees' 11.1 points a game and having to find a new assistant coach, the 2001 Tigers improved on their WNIT berth from the year before to win 22 games and advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.

MU coach Cindy Stein's job may be harder this year. She's expected to build on last year's success despite losing the team's three leading scorers and all three of her assistant coaches.

Associate head coach Lee Ann Riley stepped down to accept the head coaching position at Stephen F. Austin University on Wednesday. Assistants Steph-anie Thurman and Dave Wilbers also left in search of other coaching opportunities, leaving Stein to rebuild alone.

"We're looking at some good candidates," Stein said. "We should be able to get some good if not better coaches."

She must also rebuild the offense. Senior forward Amanda Lassiter departs for what should be a WNBA career, and senior forward Marlena Williams is hoping to join her. The roommates left at 5 a.m. Thursday for Chicago and the WNBA combine. The WNBA invited only the 100 best college seniors.

Lassiter averaged 19 points a game while Williams scored 13.1 points a contest. Senior guard Tracy Franklin shot 39.9 percent from behind the arc and averaged 9.3 points a game.

The Tigers return two starters from last season and one who has started before for MU. Sophomore Kerensa Barr finished fifth in the Big 12 Conference in assists with five a game and scored in double figures in nine of her last 11 games. She should move from the point guard position to shooting guard next season and be counted on to increase her offensive production.

Junior guard Natalie Bright started at the point in all but two games during her sophomore season. This season she became the Tigers' first guard off the bench and averaged 5.4 points. Freshman Evan Unrau started all 32 games this season and averaged 8.4 points and 7.3 rebounds. She shot 57 percent from the field.

Sophomore Wannette Smith averaged 3.5 points in 13.4 minutes off the bench and should move into a starting forward spot next year. In her first season after transferring from New Mexico State, junior Christa Milham was used at the end of the season for her defensive abilities. She could be the third guard if the Tigers run a three-guard offense.

The Tigers will also look for freshmen Tracy Lozier, Terianne Wolford and Amy Loftus to challenge for playing time. Loftus, a 6-foot-4 center, gives MU needed size inside, and forward Wolford adds a soft shooting touch. Lozier, a 5-foot-10 guard, made 45.5 percent of her 3-pointers this season. Junior Wendy Okeson was a junior college all-American last season at Barton Community College (Kansas), but played sparingly this year.

"I'm really happy with what's coming back," Stein said. "We're going to be very team-oriented. We won't be able to create our own shot next season, but with what we have coming back, we will be good in our team offense."

Stein also looks to add five new players. She is currently recruiting in the junior college ranks and is looking for one guard and one forward. The Tigers have already received commitments from three high school players.

Five-foot-10 forward Angie Carter of Spring Hill High School in Longview, Texas, averaged 22.7 points and 11.2 rebounds last season. Five-foot-11 guard Lauren Podratz of Maple Grove, Minn., averaged 11 points and shot 42 percent from behind the arc. The Osseo High School star was named all-state her junior season.

Independence, Mo., standout Megan Roney, a 6-foot-3 center, averaged 13.1 points and 8.5 rebounds as a junior at Truman High School.

"Lauren's just like Kerensa," Stein said. "They are similar in size and ability. She is a good player. Angie is explosive and could be one of the best athletes ever to come to MU when she's done. Megan has great size and can run."

Stein and the Tigers have another offseason of rebuilding and getting used to new faces.

Next season, they again hope for the same result.