Creighton Creighton/SW Missouri State SW Mo. St Women's College Basketball recap on ESPN

Stiles scored 30 points and became the career scoring leader in NCAA Division I women's basketball as Southwest Missouri State beat Creighton 94-59 on Thursday night.

She increased her career total to 3,133 points, breaking the record of 3,122 that Patricia Hoskins set at Mississippi Valley State from 1985-89. The record fell when Stiles hit a 3-pointer early in the second half, giving her 3,123.

"The pressure's off," Stiles said. "Now we can just concentrate on winning basketball games. It's just a burden off my shoulders."

Stiles, who was averaging 30.8 points, needed 20 to break the record and the game drew a standing room-only crowd of 9,155 that included Missouri Gov. Bob Holden, a 1973 Southwest Missouri State graduate.

All hoped to be a part of history, and Stiles sent them home happy as Southwest Missouri State (21-5, 15-2; No. 16 ESPN/USA Today; No. 18 Associated Press) stayed one game behind first-place Drake in the Missouri Valley Conference race.

"I didn't know if it would ever be possible, if it would ever come true," Stiles said. "It's a credit to all the great people I'm surrounded by. I don't look at it as my record. I look at it as everybody here, SMS, the community, it's their record, too. We share it."

The electricity in the air grew with each shot Stiles made. She whetted everyone's appetite by scoring 13 points in the first half, then wasted no time getting the record as the second half got under way.

Stiles hit a pull-up jumper at the 19:28 mark to give her 15 points, stole the ball and made a layup for 17, then knocked down the 3, the crowd rising in anticipation as the ball left her hand.

"I can never keep track in my head, but I could tell by the crowd I was getting close because they were getting louder and louder," Stiles said. "I could tell when it went that that was it."

Fans were still celebrating the record, chanting, "Jackie, Jackie, Jackie" when Stiles scored again on a jumper 34 seconds later. That made it 59-26. But by then, the score was incidental -- Stiles had the record and the Bears were going to win.

"You could see the relief in her face," said teammate Carly Deer, Stile's roommate. "I'm glad it's over for her."

There was another chance to celebrate after the game when Stiles was given the game ball and a banner congratulating her was unfurled from the scoreboard that hangs over the court.

"There really hasn't been time for it to sink in," Stiles said. "I guess in a few years it probably will mean more. Basketball is a team game and I could have never done it without the support of my teammates and all the people who helped me along the way."

Hoskins, who lives in Greenville, Miss., was flown in by Springfield businessman John Q. Hammons and the fans gave her a standing ovation when she was introduced before the game.

"I refused to miss this moment," Hoskins said. "This is something I want to share with everybody."

Stiles still is not the career collegiate leader. Five players scored more than Stiles in the years before women's basketball came under the NCAA in 1982. Lynette Woodard was the leader in that era with 3,649 points at Kansas from 1977-81.

But this was Stiles' night and the fans who had embraced the 5-foot-8 guard from Claflin, Kan., throughout her career got to share a special evening with her. They cheered when she was introduced and cheered every time it looked like she was going to shoot, which actually wasn't all that often.

Stiles took only eight shots in the first half and finished 11-for-17.

Creighton coach Connie Yori said she did not think her team could go down in history along with Stiles.

"Nobody's going to remember who Mark McGwire hit his 62nd home run against," Yori said. "Nobody's going to remember who she scored her points against."

Rante made all six of her shots and finished with a career-high 14 points, all in the first half. Vicente scored 16 on 7-for-9 shooting.

"Sometimes Jackie has two people on her, so we have opportunities to score," Rante said. "So I think we need to stay ready every time."

Angela Timmons led Creighton with 15 points and Christy Neneman scored 13.

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Women's College Basketball Scoreboard

Creighton Clubhouse

SW Missouri State Clubhouse

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All-time NCAA, AIAW scoring leaders

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Jackie Stiles talks about becoming the leading scorer in Women's NCAA Division I history.
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