[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 28, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE LADY BEARS

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, while we in the Senate are working hard 
exploring the mysteries of campaign finance reform, many Americans are 
enjoying the annual tradition known as ``March Madness.'' In Missouri, 
we are particularly fixated on ``the March to the Arch'' where St. 
Louis is hosting the final four of the Women's NCAA basketball 
tournament. In the final four are a couple of teams from somewhere in 
Indiana and Connecticut but in Missouri, we will be cheering for our 
Southwest Missouri State University Lady Bears. They started out as a 
low seed, but they are two upset wins away from a national 
championship. The Lady Bears are coached by Cheryl Burnett who, in her 
14 years at SW Missouri, has posted a 274-117 record winning 70 percent 
of her games.
  In recent years, the residents of my home State of Missouri have been 
privileged to witness many great sports legends, from George Brett and 
Derrick Thomas in Kansas City to Mark McGuire and Kurt Warner in St. 
Louis to Springfield's own Payne Stewart. Today I recognize the 
achievements of the Southwest Missouri State University basketball team 
and, Jackie Stiles--our newest sports legend.
  On March 1 of this year, in front of a sell-out, standing-room-only 
crowd, Jackie broke the record for most career points scored by a 
women's basketball player in NCAA Division I, a record that has stood 
since 1989.
  Ms. Stiles is the Nation's leading scorer at 30.7 points per game and 
the career total is a whopping 3,253 points. Monday night, in Spokane, 
Washington, Southwest Missouri State rolled over the home team 
Washington 104 to 87. Jackie Stiles left the game to a standing ovation 
from 11,000 fans rooting for the opposing team.
  Fans in her hometown of Claflin, KS, enjoyed watching her compete in 
basketball, track, and tennis at the high school level. They watched as 
she scored more points in the history of Kansas prep sports than any 
high school basketball player--boys or girls. Her decision to play NCAA 
Division I basketball at SMS was made after all of the top women's 
college basketball programs tried to recruit her. Her choice has been 
applauded time after time over the last 4 years as fans pack into 
Hammons Student Center to cheer on the Lady Bears team.
  Jackie Stiles has led Division I teams in average points per game the 
past 2 years and was nominated for the prestigious ESPY award, the 
Naismith Award, and was recently named to both the Associated Press and 
the Sports Illustrated Women's All-American First Team. The awards she 
has earned throughout her career are too numerous to list. Beyond the 
many honors she has earned we should recognize her for something more 
important than records and awards. Jackie Stiles has become a role 
model to the many young people who dream of the kind of achievements 
she has accomplished. The best thing about this is that she is showing 
them the way to achieve their goals. First, by being a role model and 
setting a fine example for young people everywhere. In the words of SMS 
Lady Bear's head coach Cheryl Burnett, ``She really is the kind of role 
model that an athlete should be . . . Jackie is a tremendous ambassador 
for women's basketball and athletics in general.''
  Whether she is breaking records on the court or reading to elementary 
students, Jackie embodies a spirit of excellence. Second, Jackie Stiles 
has reached the pinnacle of women's college basketball by combining her 
talent with more hard work than most can comprehend. She is the product 
of a small mid-western town and reflects the values you would expect to 
find in a town of just over 600--hard work, friendliness, dedication, 
and devotion to family. She has distinguished herself from many sports 
heros with her humility which was evident in her recent ESPN interview 
where she gave credit to the team and the program rather than accepting 
it for herself. I agree the team deserves a lot of credit, but so does 
Jackie Stiles.
  When Jackie broke her wrist during her sophomore year of high school 
she did not let it get her down. Instead, she learned to shoot left 
handed and still averaged 26 points per game. That is also when she 
began her now-famous 1,000 shots per day practices that kept her in the 
gym all hours of the day and night. It is that kind of work ethic that 
builds champions, and that I stand to honor today. She puts her team 
first and plays unselfishly on the court. When she scored 56 points in 
a game she gave the credit to her coaches and her teammates, as well as 
to the enthusiastic fans from Southwest Missouri that have lined up to 
see her play the last 4 years.
  Her team-centered focus on winning games, not personal accolades, 
sets Jackie Stiles apart. And, finally, it is her focus on being a 
scholar-athlete, maintaining a high grade point average while dealing 
with the intense pressures of being in the national spotlight. Thank 
you, Jackie, for choosing Southwest Missouri State University, and for 
setting an example for young people everywhere with your hard work and 
humility. Those are the true things of which champions are made.
  I congratulate Coach Burnett, Ms. Stiles, the entire team and 
University for this great achievement or making it to the Final Four. I 
plan on attending the game Friday night game in St. Louis to see one of 
those Indiana teams dispatched by the Lady Bears. I say to my friends 
from Indiana, while Indiana may be known for men's basketball, I 
predict this weekend will make Missouri host to the capital of college 
women's basketball.
  Mr. President, I see no one seeking recognition, so I suggest the 
absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Corzine). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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