Former Tennessee head coach and Lady Vol student-athlete Kellie Harper is in her first season with Missouri women’s basketball. She debuted as the Tigers’ head coach on Monday.
Missouri (1-0) defeated Central Arkansas (0-1), 78-71, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri.
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Junior guard Shannon Dowell led the Tigers with 21 points and 12 rebounds. She is the first Missouri player to lead the Tigers in scoring during their debut since Sophie Cunningham on Nov. 13, 2015.
Dowell converted 15-of-23 free throw attempts against Central Arkansas. She set a program record for free throw attempts, passing Renee Kelly’s 21 free throw attempts against Colorado on Jan. 24, 1987.
Harper served as the Lady Vols’ head coach from 2019-24, compiling a 108–52 (53-24 SEC) record. She guided Tennessee to four NCAA Tournament appearances in five seasons. The 2020 NCAA Tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Harper, then Kellie Jolly, played for the Lady Vols from 1995-99, winning three national championships (1996-98) under Pat Summitt.
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Kellie Harper wins debut as Missouri’s basketball head coach
