 |
| |
|
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
||
 |
|||
|
EVENTS
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|
Lady Bear mania has grip on Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- It may be known as the Queen City, but it's Jackie Stiles and the basketball court that rule Springfield these days. Fans are talking about little else as Southwest Missouri State prepares to play top-seeded Duke on Saturday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in Spokane, Wash. And they're doing more than cheering for the Lady Bears, coach Cheryl Burnett said. Her office staff has been overwhelmed by the numerous e-mails, cards, flowers, balloons and other presents from well-wishers. The players returned to practice Wednesday afternoon to find a pile of mail waiting for them. Burnett gave the team a day off after they returned home at 1 a.m. Tuesday. Burnett, however, immediately went to work. She watched the tape from her team's 60-53 win over Rutgers that launched them into the Sweet 16. She also reviewed the victory that earned Duke a spot in this weekend's regional semifinal. "I couldn't wait to get started," she said Wednesday as her players stretched on the basketball court. "I watched our game, and one of Duke. I went to bed at 5 a.m. and was ready to go again at 9 a.m." That background, along with Stiles -- the NCAA women's career scoring leader -- will help as the Lady Bears make their first appearance in the Sweet 16 since 1993, she said. Southwest Missouri State fans are added bonus. "Absolutely, it is important," Burnett said. "That thing that they say about them being the sixth man is really true." Wednesday's practice was closed to the public, but it didn't deter Richard Martin. Martin, who teaches computer science at the university, watched intently as Burnett put the women through a rigorous practice. "I follow them because they're such good students and good kids, and they're also just fun to watch," Martin said. He admires Stiles' shooting but said he truly believes the women are fun to watch because they play as a team. "They all contribute, and they all know their roles," he said. "They're all basically for the team." Martin can't make the trip to Spokane, but like many fans, he won't be far from a TV. Other fans, such as Karen Mullis and her husband, bought seats on the team's charter plane. Mullis was at the SMSU Book Store on Wednesday buying Lady Bear sweat shirts for the trip. "They're just fun to watch," she said. Mullis' son is a sophomore at the university, but she said the Lady Bears are a hot ticket and a hot topic across the city. Brent Dunn, assistant athletic director at Southwest Missouri, estimated at least 400 fans had purchased tickets for Saturday's game. Thirty of those fans paid $1,320 to fly with the team. The package includes five nights' hotel accommodation and game tickets. "The phones have been ringing off the hook all day," Dunn said. "It didn't take long to fill those 30 spots." Business at the campus book store also was brisk, said Jeff Grevillius, store clothing manager. Shirts commemorating Stiles' scoring record, as well as the NCAA Tournament have been flying off shelves. "Response has been tremendous," he said. "We have a lot of people from the community coming in." But there also has been national interest in the university. Grevillius said he's had calls from as far away as New York and California for T-shirts and hats with Stiles' No. 10 on them. Grevillius, a season-ticket holder and a self-described Lady Bear fanatic, expects business to increase if Southwest Missouri State makes it to St. Louis on March 30 for the Final Four. "You better believe I watch the Lady Bears," he said. "Section K, Row 6, Seat 1 - that's where I've been every home game this season." Most are optimistic their team will be playing at the Savvis Center in St. Louis. "We've already beat Oklahoma, so we know we can play with the best of them," Grevillius said. Added Mullis: "They're as good as anybody."
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
